feat: thread root node + workflowAsAgent returns root hash

- Engine generates step Merkle nodes (type: step) after each role step
- Engine generates thread root Merkle node (type: thread) on completion
- WorkflowResult gains rootHash field
- WorkflowFn returns WorkflowCompletion (no rootHash), engine wraps with rootHash
- workflowAsAgent returns rootHash instead of summary
- Full DAG traversal: root → steps → content
- 151 tests passing

Fixes #42

docs/plans/2025-05-07-workflow-as-agent.md

@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+# Workflow-as-Agent Implementation Plan
+
+> **For Hermes:** Use subagent-driven-development skill to implement this plan task-by-task.
+
+**Goal:** Enable workflows to invoke other workflows as agents, backed by global CAS and refs tracking.
+
+**Architecture:** Migrate CAS from thread-local to global (`~/.uncaged/workflow/cas/`), add `refs` to RoleStep for GC traceability, then build `workflowAsAgent(name)` factory that resolves workflow name → bundle via registry and spawns a child thread.
+
+**Tech Stack:** TypeScript, Bun, Zod v4, monorepo with `packages/`
+
+**Issue:** https://git.shazhou.work/uncaged/workflow/issues/25
+
+---
+
+## Phase 1: Global CAS Migration
+
+Move CAS storage from `<threadDir>/<threadId>.cas/` to `~/.uncaged/workflow/cas/` (global, content-addressed, immutable). This is a **breaking change** — thread-local `.cas/` directories are abandoned.
+
+### Task 1.1: Add `globalCasDir` helper to `storage-root.ts`
+
+**Objective:** Provide a single function that returns the global CAS directory path.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/storage-root.ts`
+- Test: `packages/workflow/__tests__/storage-root.test.ts`
+
+**Implementation:**
+
+```typescript
+// storage-root.ts — add export
+export function getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot?: string): string {
+  const root = storageRoot ?? getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot();
+  return join(root, "cas");
+}
+```
+
+Export from `packages/workflow/src/index.ts`.
+
+### Task 1.2: Update `cmd-cas.ts` to use global CAS
+
+**Objective:** CLI `cas get/put/list/rm` no longer needs threadId for storage location — CAS is global. But keep threadId in CLI for backward compat of planner/coder prompts (they pass threadId).
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-cas.ts`
+
+**Changes:**
+- `resolveCasDir` → use `getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot)` instead of deriving from thread data path
+- `cmdCasPut` / `cmdCasGet` / `cmdCasList` / `cmdCasRm`: threadId is still accepted (prompts pass it) but storage goes to global dir
+- Remove the `resolveThreadDataPath` dependency for CAS operations — thread doesn't need to exist to read CAS
+
+```typescript
+import { createThreadCas, getGlobalCasDir } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export async function cmdCasGet(
+  storageRoot: string,
+  _threadId: string, // kept for CLI compat, not used for path
+  hash: string,
+): Promise<Result<string, string>> {
+  const cas = createThreadCas(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+  const content = await cas.get(hash);
+  if (content === null) {
+    return err(`cas entry not found: ${hash}`);
+  }
+  return ok(content);
+}
+// ... same pattern for put/list/rm
+```
+
+### Task 1.3: Update `cmd-thread.ts` — thread rm no longer deletes `.cas/`
+
+**Objective:** Since CAS is global, `thread rm` should NOT delete CAS entries. CAS cleanup is GC's job.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-thread.ts`
+- Check: remove any `rmdir` / `unlink` of `<threadId>.cas/` directory
+
+### Task 1.4: Rename `createThreadCas` → `createCasStore`
+
+**Objective:** The name `createThreadCas` is misleading now. Rename to `createCasStore`.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/cas.ts` — rename function
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/index.ts` — update export (keep `createThreadCas` as deprecated alias for one release)
+- Modify: all consumers (`cmd-cas.ts`)
+
+### Task 1.5: Update tests
+
+**Objective:** All CAS-related tests use global dir instead of thread-local.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/commands.test.ts`
+- Verify: `bun test` passes
+
+### Task 1.6: Clean up old thread-local `.cas/` references
+
+**Objective:** Remove dead code that creates/reads thread-local `.cas/` directories.
+
+**Files:**
+- Search all `*.ts` for `.cas` path construction patterns
+- Remove orphaned helpers
+
+---
+
+## Phase 2: RoleStep `refs` Tracking
+
+Add `refs: string[]` to persisted role steps so GC can trace which CAS entries are alive.
+
+### Task 2.1: Add `refs` to `RoleOutput` and engine persistence
+
+**Objective:** Every role step can declare which CAS hashes it produced or consumed.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/types.ts`
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/engine.ts`
+
+**Changes to `types.ts`:**
+
+```typescript
+export type RoleOutput = {
+  role: string;
+  content: string;
+  meta: Record<string, unknown>;
+  refs: string[];  // CAS hashes produced/consumed by this step
+};
+```
+
+**Changes to `engine.ts`:**
+- `appendDataLine` for role steps: include `refs` field (default `[]` if not provided)
+
+### Task 2.2: Auto-populate refs from meta hashes
+
+**Objective:** The engine should automatically extract CAS hashes from `meta` to populate `refs`, so roles don't need to manually track them.
+
+**Strategy:** After meta extraction, walk the meta object and collect any string that looks like a CAS hash (Crockford Base32, 13 chars). This is a heuristic but works because CAS hashes are distinctive.
+
+Alternative (simpler): Let each `RoleDefinition` optionally declare a `extractRefs(meta: M) => string[]` function. For planner, this returns `meta.phases.map(p => p.hash)`. For coder, `[meta.completedPhase]`.
+
+**Recommended:** The explicit `extractRefs` approach — no magic, no false positives.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/types.ts` — add optional `extractRefs` to `RoleDefinition`
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/create-workflow.ts` — call `extractRefs` after meta extraction, set on `RoleOutput.refs`
+- Modify: `packages/workflow-role-planner/src/planner.ts` — implement `extractRefs`
+- Modify: `packages/workflow-role-coder/src/coder.ts` — implement `extractRefs`
+
+```typescript
+// types.ts — RoleDefinition addition
+export type RoleDefinition<Meta extends Record<string, unknown>> = {
+  description: string;
+  systemPrompt: string;
+  extractPrompt: string;
+  schema: z.ZodType<Meta>;
+  extractRefs?: (meta: Meta) => string[];  // CAS hashes to track
+};
+
+// planner.ts
+extractRefs: (meta) => meta.phases.map(p => p.hash),
+
+// coder.ts
+extractRefs: (meta) => [meta.completedPhase],
+```
+
+### Task 2.3: Update fork logic to preserve refs
+
+**Objective:** When forking a thread, `refs` from historical steps must be carried over.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/fork-thread.ts`
+- Verify: `ForkHistoricalStep` / `PrefilledDiskStep` include `refs`
+
+### Task 2.4: Tests for refs tracking
+
+**Files:**
+- Add: `packages/workflow/__tests__/refs-tracking.test.ts`
+- Verify: refs appear in `.data.jsonl` output
+
+---
+
+## Phase 3: CAS Garbage Collection
+
+### Task 3.1: Implement `gc.ts` in `@uncaged/workflow`
+
+**Objective:** Mark-and-sweep GC — scan all thread `.data.jsonl` files, collect `refs`, delete orphaned CAS entries.
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `packages/workflow/src/gc.ts`
+- Export from: `packages/workflow/src/index.ts`
+
+```typescript
+export type GcResult = {
+  scannedThreads: number;
+  activeRefs: number;
+  deletedEntries: number;
+  deletedHashes: string[];
+};
+
+export async function garbageCollectCas(storageRoot: string): Promise<GcResult> {
+  // 1. Find all .data.jsonl files under storageRoot
+  // 2. Parse each, flatMap step.refs → Set<string>
+  // 3. List all CAS entries via createCasStore(globalCasDir).list()
+  // 4. Delete entries not in active set
+  // 5. Return stats
+}
+```
+
+### Task 3.2: Add `uncaged-workflow gc` CLI command
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-gc.ts`
+- Modify: `packages/cli-workflow/src/cli-dispatch.ts` — add `gc` subcommand
+
+### Task 3.3: Run GC on `thread rm`
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-thread.ts` — after deleting thread data, optionally run GC
+
+### Task 3.4: Tests for GC
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/gc-cli.test.ts`
+
+---
+
+## Phase 4: `workflowAsAgent` Factory
+
+### Task 4.1: Create `workflowAsAgent` in `@uncaged/workflow`
+
+**Objective:** Factory function that takes a workflow name, resolves to bundle, returns an `AgentFn`.
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `packages/workflow/src/workflow-as-agent.ts`
+- Export from: `packages/workflow/src/index.ts`
+
+```typescript
+import type { AgentFn } from "./types.js";
+
+export type WorkflowAsAgentOptions = {
+  storageRoot?: string;
+};
+
+export function workflowAsAgent(
+  workflowName: string,
+  options?: WorkflowAsAgentOptions,
+): AgentFn {
+  return async (ctx) => {
+    const storageRoot = options?.storageRoot ?? getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot();
+
+    // 1. Read registry → resolve name to bundle hash + path
+    const registry = await readWorkflowRegistry(storageRoot);
+    const entry = getRegisteredWorkflow(registry, workflowName);
+    if (entry === null) {
+      return `ERROR: workflow "${workflowName}" not found in registry`;
+    }
+
+    // 2. Load bundle
+    const bundlePath = join(storageRoot, "bundles", `${entry.hash}.esm.js`);
+    const bundleExports = await extractBundleExports(bundlePath);
+
+    // 3. Create child thread input from ctx.start.content (parent prompt)
+    const input: ThreadInput = {
+      prompt: ctx.start.content,
+      steps: [],
+    };
+
+    // 4. Generate child threadId
+    const childThreadId = generateUlid();
+
+    // 5. Execute — collect all yields, return final content
+    const io: ExecuteThreadIo = { ... };
+    const result = await executeThread(bundleExports.run, workflowName, input, ...);
+
+    // 6. Return summary as agent content
+    return result.summary;
+  };
+}
+```
+
+### Task 4.2: System-level depth limit
+
+**Objective:** Prevent infinite recursion. Track depth via thread metadata, enforce a global max (default 3, configurable in `workflow.yaml`).
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/types.ts` — add `depth` to `WorkflowFnOptions`
+- Modify: `packages/workflow/src/workflow-as-agent.ts` — increment depth, check limit
+- Modify: registry or config types for `maxDepth` setting
+
+### Task 4.3: Tests for workflowAsAgent
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `packages/workflow/__tests__/workflow-as-agent.test.ts`
+- Test: name resolution, depth limit, child thread execution
+
+### Task 4.4: Integration test — nested workflow
+
+**Objective:** Create a minimal test workflow that calls another workflow via `workflowAsAgent`.
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `packages/workflow/__tests__/workflow-as-agent-integration.test.ts`
+
+---
+
+## Execution Order
+
+```
+Phase 1 (Global CAS) → Phase 2 (refs) → Phase 3 (GC) → Phase 4 (workflowAsAgent)
+```
+
+Each phase is independently mergeable. Phase 3 depends on Phase 2 (needs refs to know what's alive). Phase 4 depends on Phase 1 (global CAS for cross-thread sharing).
+
+## Breaking Changes
+
+- CAS storage location moves from `<thread>.cas/` to `~/.uncaged/workflow/cas/`
+- `RoleOutput` gains required `refs: string[]` field
+- Existing threads with thread-local CAS will lose access to old CAS data (acceptable — those are short-lived workflow artifacts)
+- `createThreadCas` renamed to `createCasStore` (alias kept temporarily)

examples/hello-world.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const greeter: RoleDefinition<Roles["greeter"]> = {
   systemPrompt: "You greet the user briefly.",
   extractPrompt: "Extract the greeting string produced for the user.",
   schema: greeterMetaSchema,
+  extractRefs: null,
 };
 
 const extract = createExtract({

packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/commands.test.ts

@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, rm, unlink, writeFile } from "node:fs/promise
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 
-import { getRegisteredWorkflow, readWorkflowRegistry } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import { getGlobalCasDir, getRegisteredWorkflow, readWorkflowRegistry } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 import { cmdAdd } from "../src/cmd-add.js";
+import { cmdCasGet, cmdCasList, cmdCasPut, cmdCasRm } from "../src/cmd-cas.js";
 import { cmdHistory } from "../src/cmd-history.js";
 import { cmdList, formatListLines } from "../src/cmd-list.js";
 import { cmdRemove } from "../src/cmd-remove.js";
@@ -15,6 +16,9 @@ import { addCliArgs } from "./bundle-fixture.js";
 const fixtureDescriptor = `export const descriptor = { description: "fixture", roles: {} };
 `;
 
+const wfPutImport = `import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+`;
+
 describe("cli workflow commands", () => {
   let prevEnv: string | undefined;
   let storageRoot: string;
@@ -40,11 +44,13 @@ describe("cli workflow commands", () => {
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}import fs from "node:fs";
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}import fs from "node:fs";
 
-export const run = async function* (input) {
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
   fs.existsSync(".");
-  yield { role: "noop", content: input.prompt, meta: { done: true } };
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, input.prompt);
+  yield { role: "noop", contentHash: h, meta: { done: true }, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 }
 `,
@@ -111,8 +117,8 @@ export const run = async function* (input) { return { returnCode: 0, summary: in
     const bundlePath = join(storageRoot, "solo.esm.js");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "x", content: input.prompt, meta: {} };
+      `export const run = async function* () {
+  yield { role: "x", contentHash: "STUBHASH00000000000000001", meta: {}, refs: [] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "ok" };
 }
 `,
@@ -140,8 +146,11 @@ export const run = async function* (input) { return { returnCode: 0, summary: in
     },
   },
 };
-export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "greeter", content: input.prompt, meta: { greeting: "hi" } };
+${wfPutImport}
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, input.prompt);
+  yield { role: "greeter", contentHash: h, meta: { greeting: "hi" }, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "ok" };
 };
 `,
@@ -179,8 +188,10 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "x", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "x" };
 }
 `,
@@ -208,8 +219,10 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const dtsPath = join(bundleDir, "types.d.ts");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "x", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "x" };
 }
 `,
@@ -239,8 +252,10 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "x", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "x" };
 }
 `,
@@ -260,13 +275,17 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const bundleDir = join(storageRoot, "src");
     await mkdir(bundleDir, { recursive: true });
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
-    const v1 = `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "v1", meta: {} };
+    const v1 = `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "v1");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "v1" };
 }
 `;
-    const v2 = `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "v2", meta: {} };
+    const v2 = `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "v2");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "v2" };
 }
 `;
@@ -298,13 +317,17 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const bundleDir = join(storageRoot, "src");
     await mkdir(bundleDir, { recursive: true });
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
-    const v1 = `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "v1", meta: {} };
+    const v1 = `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "v1");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "v1" };
 }
 `;
-    const v2 = `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "v2", meta: {} };
+    const v2 = `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "v2");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "v2" };
 }
 `;
@@ -346,8 +369,10 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "x", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "x" };
 }
 `,
@@ -357,8 +382,10 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     expect(add1.ok).toBe(true);
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "y", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "y");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "y" };
 }
 `,
@@ -371,14 +398,47 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     expect(bad.ok).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  test("cas put/get/list/rm use global cas dir (thread id not required for storage)", async () => {
+    const put = await cmdCasPut(storageRoot, "nonexistent-thread-id", "phase doc");
+    expect(put.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!put.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const hash = put.value;
+    const blobPath = join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${hash}.txt`);
+    expect(await readFile(blobPath, "utf8")).toBe("phase doc");
+
+    const got = await cmdCasGet(storageRoot, "other-thread", hash);
+    expect(got.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!got.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(got.value).toBe("phase doc");
+
+    const listed = await cmdCasList(storageRoot, "another-thread");
+    expect(listed.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!listed.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(listed.value).toContain(hash);
+
+    const removed = await cmdCasRm(storageRoot, "rm-thread", hash);
+    expect(removed.ok).toBe(true);
+
+    const missing = await cmdCasGet(storageRoot, "after-rm", hash);
+    expect(missing.ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   test("rollback rejects missing bundle file for target hash", async () => {
     const bundleDir = join(storageRoot, "src");
     await mkdir(bundleDir, { recursive: true });
     const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "x", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "x" };
 }
 `,
@@ -392,8 +452,10 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     const hash1 = add1.value.hash;
     await writeFile(
       bundlePath,
-      `${fixtureDescriptor}export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "a", content: "y", meta: {} };
+      `${fixtureDescriptor}${wfPutImport}export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "y");
+  yield { role: "a", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "y" };
 }
 `,

packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/fork-cli.test.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
 import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
+import { createCasStore, getContentMerklePayload, getGlobalCasDir } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 import { cmdAdd } from "../src/cmd-add.js";
 import { cmdFork } from "../src/cmd-fork.js";
 import { cmdRun } from "../src/cmd-run.js";
@@ -9,7 +10,9 @@ import { pathExists } from "../src/fs-utils.js";
 import { addCliArgs } from "./bundle-fixture.js";
 
 /** Three-role workflow that respects `input.steps` for fork/resume. */
-const threeRoleBundleSource = `export const descriptor = {
+const threeRoleBundleSource = `import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export const descriptor = {
   description: "fork-cli",
   roles: {
     planner: { description: "planner", schema: {} },
@@ -17,20 +20,21 @@ const threeRoleBundleSource = `export const descriptor = {
     reviewer: { description: "reviewer", schema: {} },
   },
 };
-export const run = async function* (input) {
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
   const has = (r) => input.steps.some((s) => s.role === r);
   if (!has("planner")) {
-    yield { role: "planner", content: "p1", meta: { k: "planner" } };
+    const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "p1");
+    yield { role: "planner", contentHash: h, meta: { k: "planner" }, refs: [h] };
   }
   if (!has("coder")) {
-    yield { role: "coder", content: "c1", meta: { k: "coder" } };
+    const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "c1");
+    yield { role: "coder", contentHash: h, meta: { k: "coder" }, refs: [h] };
   }
   if (!has("reviewer")) {
-    yield {
-      role: "reviewer",
-      content: "rev-" + String(input.steps.length),
-      meta: { k: "reviewer" },
-    };
+    const body = "rev-" + String(input.steps.length);
+    const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, body);
+    yield { role: "reviewer", contentHash: h, meta: { k: "reviewer" }, refs: [h] };
   }
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 };
@@ -132,7 +136,8 @@ describe("cli fork", () => {
 
     const last = JSON.parse(lines[lines.length - 1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
     expect(last.role).toBe("reviewer");
-    expect(last.content).toBe("rev-1");
+    const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+    expect(await getContentMerklePayload(cas, String(last.contentHash))).toBe("rev-1");
   });
 
   test("fork without --from-role retries last role", async () => {
@@ -179,11 +184,12 @@ describe("cli fork", () => {
 
     const replayCoder = JSON.parse(lines[2] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
     expect(replayCoder.role).toBe("coder");
-    expect(replayCoder.content).toBe("c1");
+    const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+    expect(await getContentMerklePayload(cas, String(replayCoder.contentHash))).toBe("c1");
 
     const last = JSON.parse(lines[lines.length - 1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
     expect(last.role).toBe("reviewer");
-    expect(last.content).toBe("rev-2");
+    expect(await getContentMerklePayload(cas, String(last.contentHash))).toBe("rev-2");
   });
 
   test("fork rejects unknown role with available names", async () => {

packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/gc-cli.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import {
+  createCasStore,
+  garbageCollectCas,
+  getGlobalCasDir,
+  putContentMerkleNode,
+} from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import { cmdThreadRemove } from "../src/cmd-thread.js";
+import { pathExists } from "../src/fs-utils.js";
+
+const cliEntryPath = fileURLToPath(new URL("../src/cli.ts", import.meta.url));
+
+async function writeDemoDataJsonl(params: {
+  path: string;
+  threadId: string;
+  bundleHash: string;
+  cas: ReturnType<typeof createCasStore>;
+  activeHash: string;
+}): Promise<void> {
+  const bodyHash = await putContentMerkleNode(params.cas, "p");
+  const text = [
+    JSON.stringify({
+      name: "demo",
+      hash: params.bundleHash,
+      threadId: params.threadId,
+      parameters: { prompt: "hi", options: { maxRounds: 5 } },
+      timestamp: 100,
+    }),
+    JSON.stringify({
+      role: "planner",
+      contentHash: bodyHash,
+      meta: {},
+      refs: [params.activeHash, bodyHash],
+      timestamp: 101,
+    }),
+    "",
+  ].join("\n");
+  await writeFile(params.path, text, "utf8");
+}
+
+describe("gc cli and garbageCollectCas", () => {
+  let prevEnv: string | undefined;
+  let storageRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    prevEnv = process.env.UNCAGED_WORKFLOW_STORAGE_ROOT;
+    storageRoot = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "uncaged-wf-gc-"));
+    process.env.UNCAGED_WORKFLOW_STORAGE_ROOT = storageRoot;
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    if (prevEnv === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.UNCAGED_WORKFLOW_STORAGE_ROOT;
+    } else {
+      process.env.UNCAGED_WORKFLOW_STORAGE_ROOT = prevEnv;
+    }
+    await rm(storageRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test("garbageCollectCas keeps CAS entries referenced by thread refs", async () => {
+    const bundleHash = "C9NMV6V2TQT81";
+    const threadId = "01AAA1111111111111111111";
+    const logsDir = join(storageRoot, "logs", bundleHash);
+    await mkdir(logsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+    const activeHash = await cas.put("active-blob");
+    const orphanHash = await cas.put("orphan-blob");
+
+    await writeDemoDataJsonl({
+      path: join(logsDir, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`),
+      threadId,
+      bundleHash,
+      cas,
+      activeHash,
+    });
+
+    const gc = await garbageCollectCas(storageRoot);
+    expect(gc.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!gc.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(gc.value.scannedThreads).toBe(1);
+    expect(gc.value.activeRefs).toBe(2);
+    expect(gc.value.deletedEntries).toBe(1);
+    expect(gc.value.deletedHashes).toEqual([orphanHash]);
+
+    expect(await pathExists(join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${activeHash}.txt`))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${orphanHash}.txt`))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("garbageCollectCas deletes orphaned CAS when no threads reference them", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+    const orphanHash = await cas.put("lonely");
+
+    const gc = await garbageCollectCas(storageRoot);
+    expect(gc.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!gc.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(gc.value.scannedThreads).toBe(0);
+    expect(gc.value.activeRefs).toBe(0);
+    expect(gc.value.deletedEntries).toBe(1);
+    expect(gc.value.deletedHashes).toEqual([orphanHash]);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${orphanHash}.txt`))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("cli gc prints stats", async () => {
+    const bundleHash = "C9NMV6V2TQT81";
+    const threadId = "01BBB2222222222222222222";
+    const logsDir = join(storageRoot, "logs", bundleHash);
+    await mkdir(logsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+    const activeHash = await cas.put("keep-me");
+    await cas.put("drop-me");
+
+    await writeDemoDataJsonl({
+      path: join(logsDir, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`),
+      threadId,
+      bundleHash,
+      cas,
+      activeHash,
+    });
+
+    const env = { ...process.env, UNCAGED_WORKFLOW_STORAGE_ROOT: storageRoot };
+    const proc = spawnSync(process.execPath, [cliEntryPath, "gc"], { env, encoding: "utf8" });
+    expect(proc.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(String(proc.stdout).trim()).toBe("scanned 1 threads, 2 active refs, deleted 1 entries");
+  });
+
+  test("thread rm triggers gc so unreferenced CAS is removed", async () => {
+    const bundleHash = "C9NMV6V2TQT81";
+    const threadId = "01CCC3333333333333333333";
+    const logsDir = join(storageRoot, "logs", bundleHash);
+    await mkdir(logsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+    const activeHash = await cas.put("pinned-by-ref");
+    await writeDemoDataJsonl({
+      path: join(logsDir, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`),
+      threadId,
+      bundleHash,
+      cas,
+      activeHash,
+    });
+
+    const orphanHash = await cas.put("orphan-after-rm");
+    const orphanPath = join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${orphanHash}.txt`);
+
+    const removed = await cmdThreadRemove(storageRoot, threadId);
+    expect(removed.ok).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(await pathExists(orphanPath)).toBe(false);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${activeHash}.txt`))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/thread-cli.test.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { getGlobalCasDir } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 import { cmdAdd } from "../src/cmd-add.js";
+import { cmdCasPut } from "../src/cmd-cas.js";
 import { cmdKill } from "../src/cmd-kill.js";
 import { cmdPause } from "../src/cmd-pause.js";
 import { cmdPs } from "../src/cmd-ps.js";
@@ -12,9 +14,12 @@ import { cmdResume } from "../src/cmd-resume.js";
 import { cmdRun } from "../src/cmd-run.js";
 import { cmdThreadRemove, cmdThreadShow } from "../src/cmd-thread.js";
 import { cmdThreads } from "../src/cmd-threads.js";
-import { pathExists } from "../src/fs-utils.js";
+import { pathExists, readTextFileIfExists } from "../src/fs-utils.js";
 import { addCliArgs } from "./bundle-fixture.js";
 
+const wfPutImport = `import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+`;
+
 const threadFixtureDescriptor = `export const descriptor = {
   description: "thread-cli",
   roles: {
@@ -29,18 +34,26 @@ const threadFixtureDescriptor = `export const descriptor = {
 `;
 
 const fastBundleSource = `${threadFixtureDescriptor}
-export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "planner", content: "plan", meta: { plan: input.prompt } };
-  yield { role: "coder", content: "code", meta: { diff: "y" } };
+${wfPutImport}
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  let h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "plan");
+  yield { role: "planner", contentHash: h, meta: { plan: input.prompt }, refs: [h] };
+  h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "code");
+  yield { role: "coder", contentHash: h, meta: { diff: "y" }, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 };
 `;
 
 const slowPlannerBundleSource = `${threadFixtureDescriptor}
-export const run = async function* (input) {
+${wfPutImport}
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
   await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 400));
-  yield { role: "planner", content: "plan", meta: { plan: input.prompt } };
-  yield { role: "coder", content: "code", meta: { diff: "y" } };
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  let h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "plan");
+  yield { role: "planner", contentHash: h, meta: { plan: input.prompt }, refs: [h] };
+  h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "code");
+  yield { role: "coder", contentHash: h, meta: { diff: "y" }, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 };
 `;
@@ -48,27 +61,38 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
 const cliEntryPath = fileURLToPath(new URL("../src/cli.ts", import.meta.url));
 
 const abortablePlannerBundleSource = `${threadFixtureDescriptor}
-export const run = async function* (input) {
+${wfPutImport}
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
   await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 600));
-  yield { role: "planner", content: "plan", meta: { plan: input.prompt } };
-  yield { role: "coder", content: "code", meta: { diff: "y" } };
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  let h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "plan");
+  yield { role: "planner", contentHash: h, meta: { plan: input.prompt }, refs: [h] };
+  h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "code");
+  yield { role: "coder", contentHash: h, meta: { diff: "y" }, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 };
 `;
 
 const pauseResumeBundleSource = `${threadFixtureDescriptor}
-export const run = async function* (input) {
-  yield { role: "first", content: "f", meta: {} };
+${wfPutImport}
+export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  let h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "f");
+  yield { role: "first", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 1500));
-  yield { role: "second", content: "s", meta: {} };
+  h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "s");
+  yield { role: "second", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 };
 `;
 
 const delayedFirstYieldBundleSource = `${threadFixtureDescriptor}
-export const run = async function* (input) {
+${wfPutImport}
+export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
   await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 900));
-  yield { role: "only", content: "x", meta: {} };
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  yield { role: "only", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "done" };
 };
 `;
@@ -175,6 +199,55 @@ describe("cli thread commands", () => {
     expect(await pathExists(dataPath)).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  test("thread rm runs GC and removes CAS blobs not referenced by any remaining thread", async () => {
+    const bundleDir = join(storageRoot, "src");
+    await mkdir(bundleDir, { recursive: true });
+    const bundlePath = join(bundleDir, "demo.esm.js");
+    await writeFile(bundlePath, fastBundleSource, "utf8");
+
+    const added = await cmdAdd(storageRoot, addCliArgs("solve-issue", bundlePath));
+    expect(added.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!added.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const ran = await cmdRun(storageRoot, "solve-issue", "hello", 5);
+    expect(ran.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!ran.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const threadId = ran.value.threadId;
+
+    let threads = await cmdThreads(storageRoot, []);
+    for (
+      let attempt = 0;
+      attempt < 50 && threads.ok && !threads.value.some((l) => l.includes(threadId));
+      attempt++
+    ) {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 20));
+      threads = await cmdThreads(storageRoot, []);
+    }
+
+    const dataPath = join(storageRoot, "logs", added.value.hash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
+    const runningPath = join(dirname(dataPath), `${threadId}.running`);
+    await waitUntilRunningFileAbsent(runningPath, 120);
+
+    const put = await cmdCasPut(storageRoot, threadId, "keep-after-thread-rm");
+    expect(put.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!put.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const hash = put.value;
+    const casBlob = join(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot), `${hash}.txt`);
+
+    const removed = await cmdThreadRemove(storageRoot, threadId);
+    expect(removed.ok).toBe(true);
+
+    const stillThere = await readTextFileIfExists(casBlob);
+    expect(stillThere).toBeNull();
+  });
+
   test("cli entrypoint dispatches threads / ps (spawn)", () => {
     const env = { ...process.env, UNCAGED_WORKFLOW_STORAGE_ROOT: storageRoot };
     const threads = spawnSync(process.execPath, [cliEntryPath, "threads"], {

packages/cli-workflow/src/cli-dispatch.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { printCliError, printCliLine, printCliWarn } from "./cli-output.js";
 import { cmdAdd, formatAddSuccess, parseAddArgv } from "./cmd-add.js";
+import { cmdCasGet, cmdCasList, cmdCasPut, cmdCasRm } from "./cmd-cas.js";
 import { cmdFork, parseForkArgv } from "./cmd-fork.js";
+import { cmdGc } from "./cmd-gc.js";
 import { cmdHistory } from "./cmd-history.js";
 import { cmdKill } from "./cmd-kill.js";
 import { cmdList, formatListLines } from "./cmd-list.js";
@@ -33,6 +35,11 @@ function usage(): string {
     "  uncaged-workflow thread <id>",
     "  uncaged-workflow thread rm <id>",
     "  uncaged-workflow fork <thread-id> [--from-role <role>]",
+    "  uncaged-workflow gc",
+    "  uncaged-workflow cas get <thread-id> <hash>",
+    "  uncaged-workflow cas put <thread-id> <content>",
+    "  uncaged-workflow cas list <thread-id>",
+    "  uncaged-workflow cas rm <thread-id> <hash>",
   ].join("\n");
 }
 
@@ -261,6 +268,23 @@ async function dispatchThreadBranch(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promis
   return dispatchThread(storageRoot, rest);
 }
 
+async function dispatchGc(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  if (argv.length > 0) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: gc takes no arguments`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const result = await cmdGc(storageRoot);
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    printCliError(result.error);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const stats = result.value;
+  printCliLine(
+    `scanned ${stats.scannedThreads} threads, ${stats.activeRefs} active refs, deleted ${stats.deletedEntries} entries`,
+  );
+  return 0;
+}
+
 async function dispatchFork(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const parsed = parseForkArgv(argv);
   if (!parsed.ok) {
@@ -276,6 +300,95 @@ async function dispatchFork(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number
   return 0;
 }
 
+async function dispatchCasGet(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  const threadId = rest[0];
+  const hash = rest[1];
+  if (threadId === undefined || hash === undefined || rest.length > 2) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas get requires <thread-id> <hash>`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const result = await cmdCasGet(storageRoot, threadId, hash);
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    printCliError(result.error);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  printCliLine(result.value);
+  return 0;
+}
+
+async function dispatchCasPut(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  const threadId = rest[0];
+  const content = rest[1];
+  if (threadId === undefined || content === undefined || rest.length > 2) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas put requires <thread-id> <content>`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const result = await cmdCasPut(storageRoot, threadId, content);
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    printCliError(result.error);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  printCliLine(result.value);
+  return 0;
+}
+
+async function dispatchCasList(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  const threadId = rest[0];
+  if (threadId === undefined || rest.length > 1) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas list requires <thread-id>`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const result = await cmdCasList(storageRoot, threadId);
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    printCliError(result.error);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  for (const hash of result.value) {
+    printCliLine(hash);
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+async function dispatchCasRm(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  const threadId = rest[0];
+  const hash = rest[1];
+  if (threadId === undefined || hash === undefined || rest.length > 2) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas rm requires <thread-id> <hash>`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const result = await cmdCasRm(storageRoot, threadId, hash);
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    printCliError(result.error);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  printCliLine(`removed cas entry ${hash}`);
+  return 0;
+}
+
+const CAS_SUBCOMMAND_TABLE: Record<
+  string,
+  (storageRoot: string, rest: string[]) => Promise<number>
+> = {
+  get: dispatchCasGet,
+  put: dispatchCasPut,
+  list: dispatchCasList,
+  rm: dispatchCasRm,
+};
+
+async function dispatchCas(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  const sub = argv[0];
+  if (sub === undefined) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: unknown cas subcommand: (none)`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  const handler = CAS_SUBCOMMAND_TABLE[sub];
+  if (handler === undefined) {
+    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: unknown cas subcommand: ${sub}`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  return handler(storageRoot, argv.slice(1));
+}
+
 type DispatchFn = (storageRoot: string, argv: string[]) => Promise<number>;
 
 const COMMAND_TABLE: Record<string, DispatchFn> = {
@@ -293,6 +406,8 @@ const COMMAND_TABLE: Record<string, DispatchFn> = {
   threads: dispatchThreads,
   thread: dispatchThreadBranch,
   fork: dispatchFork,
+  gc: dispatchGc,
+  cas: dispatchCas,
 };
 
 export async function runCli(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {

packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-add.ts

@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ export async function cmdAdd(
     return validated;
   }
 
-  const extracted = await extractBundleExports(resolvedPath);
+  const extracted = await extractBundleExports(resolvedPath, { storageRoot });
   if (!extracted.ok) {
     return extracted;
   }

packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-cas.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { createCasStore, err, getGlobalCasDir, ok, type Result } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export async function cmdCasGet(
+  storageRoot: string,
+  _threadId: string,
+  hash: string,
+): Promise<Result<string, string>> {
+  const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+  const content = await cas.get(hash);
+  if (content === null) {
+    return err(`cas entry not found: ${hash}`);
+  }
+  return ok(content);
+}
+
+export async function cmdCasPut(
+  storageRoot: string,
+  _threadId: string,
+  content: string,
+): Promise<Result<string, string>> {
+  const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+  const hash = await cas.put(content);
+  return ok(hash);
+}
+
+export async function cmdCasList(
+  storageRoot: string,
+  _threadId: string,
+): Promise<Result<string[], string>> {
+  const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+  const hashes = await cas.list();
+  return ok(hashes);
+}
+
+export async function cmdCasRm(
+  storageRoot: string,
+  _threadId: string,
+  hash: string,
+): Promise<Result<void, string>> {
+  const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+  await cas.delete(hash);
+  return ok(undefined);
+}

packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-fork.ts

@@ -65,8 +65,9 @@ export async function cmdFork(
   const newThreadId = generateUlid(Date.now());
   const stepsOnWire = plan.value.historicalSteps.map((s) => ({
     role: s.role,
-    content: s.content,
+    contentHash: s.contentHash,
     meta: s.meta,
+    refs: s.refs,
     timestamp: s.timestamp,
   }));
 

packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-gc.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import { type GcResult, garbageCollectCas, type Result } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export async function cmdGc(storageRoot: string): Promise<Result<GcResult, string>> {
+  return garbageCollectCas(storageRoot);
+}

packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-run.ts

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export async function cmdRun(
       threadId,
       workflowName: name,
       prompt,
-      options: { maxRounds },
+      options: { maxRounds, depth: 0 },
     },
     { awaitResponseLine: false },
   );

packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-thread.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { unlink } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 
-import { err, ok, type Result } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import { err, garbageCollectCas, ok, type Result } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 
 import { readTextFileIfExists } from "./fs-utils.js";
 import { resolveThreadDataPath } from "./thread-scan.js";
@@ -38,5 +38,7 @@ export async function cmdThreadRemove(
   await unlink(infoPath).catch(() => {});
   await unlink(runningPath).catch(() => {});
 
+  await garbageCollectCas(storageRoot);
+
   return ok(undefined);
 }

packages/workflow-agent-cursor/src/index.ts

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function createCursorAgent(config: CursorAgentConfig): AgentFn {
       "From the thread context, determine the absolute filesystem path where the project/repository is located.",
       extractCtx,
     );
-    const fullPrompt = buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
+    const fullPrompt = await buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
     const args = [
       "-p",
       fullPrompt,

packages/workflow-agent-hermes/src/index.ts

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export function createHermesAgent(config: HermesAgentConfig): AgentFn {
   const timeoutMs = config.timeout;
 
   return async (ctx) => {
-    const fullPrompt = buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
+    const fullPrompt = await buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
     const args = [
       "chat",
       "-q",

packages/workflow-agent-llm/__tests__/create-llm-adapter.test.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
-import { START, type ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import { mkdtempSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { createCasStore, START, type ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 
 import { createLlmAdapter } from "../src/create-llm-adapter.js";
 
+const casDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "wf-llm-adapter-cas-"));
+const testCas = createCasStore(casDir);
+
 function makeCtx(userContent: string): ThreadContext {
   return {
     start: {
@@ -11,9 +17,11 @@ function makeCtx(userContent: string): ThreadContext {
       meta: { maxRounds: 10 },
       timestamp: 1,
     },
+    depth: 0,
     steps: [],
     threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR",
     currentRole: { name: "planner", systemPrompt: "system instructions" },
+    cas: testCas,
   };
 }
 

packages/workflow-role-coder/src/coder.ts

@@ -10,13 +10,33 @@ export const coderMetaSchema = z.object({
 export type CoderMeta = z.infer<typeof coderMetaSchema>;
 
 const CODER_SYSTEM = `You are a **coder**. Read the thread for the plan and work on the NEXT incomplete phase only.
-Report which phase you completed using the planner's exact phase name. If you legitimately finish every remaining phase in this single turn, set completedPhase to the last phase name in the plan (the workflow treats that as full completion). List the files you changed and summarize what you did.`;
+
+## Finding the current thread ID
+
+The thread ID is a 26-character Crockford Base32 string (e.g. \`06F03H5V6JTMDST6P3TVH42RWM\`). It appears in the first message of this conversation. If you are unsure, run:
+
+  uncaged-workflow threads
+
+and use the ID of the active thread.
+
+## Reading phase details
+
+Each planner phase is identified by a content-hash and a title. To read a phase's full details (name, description, acceptance criteria), run:
+
+  uncaged-workflow cas get <THREAD_ID> <HASH>
+
+Replace \`<THREAD_ID>\` with the actual thread ID and \`<HASH>\` with the phase hash from the plan.
+
+## Completing a phase
+
+Report which phase you completed using the phase **hash** (not the title). If you legitimately finish every remaining phase in this single turn, set completedPhase to the **last** phase hash in the plan (the workflow treats that as full completion). List the files you changed and summarize what you did.`;
 
 export const coderRole: RoleDefinition<CoderMeta> = {
   description:
     "Implements the next incomplete planner phase and reports structured completion metadata.",
   systemPrompt: CODER_SYSTEM,
   extractPrompt:
-    "Extract completedPhase: the planner phase name finished this round (exact string from the plan). If multiple phases were finished in one round, use the last finished phase name. Extract filesChanged and a summary of the work.",
+    "Extract completedPhase: the planner phase hash finished this round (exact hash string from the plan). If multiple phases were finished in one round, use the last finished phase hash. Extract filesChanged and a summary of the work.",
   schema: coderMetaSchema,
+  extractRefs: (meta) => [meta.completedPhase],
 };

packages/workflow-role-committer/src/committer.ts

@@ -31,4 +31,5 @@ export const committerRole: RoleDefinition<CommitterMeta> = {
   extractPrompt:
     "Extract the commit result: committed (with branch and SHA), recoverable failure, or unrecoverable failure. Include error details and log references if applicable.",
   schema: committerMetaSchema,
+  extractRefs: null,
 };

packages/workflow-role-planner/src/planner.ts

@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@ import type { RoleDefinition } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 import * as z from "zod/v4";
 
 export const phaseSchema = z.object({
-  name: z.string(),
-  description: z.string(),
-  acceptance: z.string(),
+  hash: z.string(),
+  title: z.string(),
 });
 
 export const plannerMetaSchema = z.object({
@@ -15,14 +14,40 @@ export type PlannerMeta = z.infer<typeof plannerMetaSchema>;
 
 const PLANNER_SYSTEM = `You are a **planner** for a software task. Break the work into **sequential phases** the coder will execute one at a time.
 
-Each phase must have: a short **name** (stable identifier), a **description** of what to do in that phase, and **acceptance** criteria for when that phase is done.
+## Finding the current thread ID
 
-Order phases so earlier steps unblock later ones. Cover root cause, edge cases, and verification across the phases. Do not emit separate file lists or a free-form "approach" field — put that detail inside phase descriptions.`;
+The thread ID is a 26-character Crockford Base32 string (e.g. \`06F03H5V6JTMDST6P3TVH42RWM\`). It appears in the first message of this conversation. If you are unsure, run:
+
+  uncaged-workflow threads
+
+and use the ID of the active thread.
+
+## Storing phase details — MANDATORY
+
+For each phase you MUST store its full detail text in CAS using this exact CLI command:
+
+  uncaged-workflow cas put <THREAD_ID> '# <name>
+
+Description: <description>
+
+Acceptance: <acceptance>'
+
+Replace \`<THREAD_ID>\` with the actual thread ID you found above. The command prints a content-hash to stdout — use that hash as the phase identifier.
+
+**Do NOT store phase details in any other way** (no temp files, no invented paths). The CLI command is the only supported storage mechanism.
+
+## Output format
+
+After storing all phases via the CLI, output compact JSON only:
+  { "phases": [{ "hash": "<hash-from-cas-put>", "title": "<one-line-summary>" }] }
+
+Order phases so earlier steps unblock later ones. Cover root cause, edge cases, and verification across the phases.`;
 
 export const plannerRole: RoleDefinition<PlannerMeta> = {
   description: "Breaks the task into sequential phases for the coder.",
   systemPrompt: PLANNER_SYSTEM,
   extractPrompt:
-    "Extract the implementation phases from the agent's analysis. Each phase needs a name, description, and acceptance criteria.",
+    "Extract the implementation phases from the agent's output. Each phase has a hash (the CAS content-hash returned by the cas put command) and a title (one-line summary).",
   schema: plannerMetaSchema,
+  extractRefs: (meta) => meta.phases.map((p) => p.hash),
 };

packages/workflow-role-preparer/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "name": "@uncaged/workflow-role-preparer",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "type": "module",
+  "main": "src/index.ts",
+  "types": "src/index.ts",
+  "scripts": {
+    "build": "echo 'TODO'",
+    "test": "echo no tests"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@uncaged/workflow": "workspace:*",
+    "zod": "^4.0.0"
+  }
+}

packages/workflow-role-preparer/src/index.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+export {
+  type PreparerMeta,
+  preparerMetaSchema,
+  preparerRole,
+} from "./preparer.js";

packages/workflow-role-preparer/src/preparer.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import type { RoleDefinition } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import * as z from "zod/v4";
+
+const toolchainSchema = z.object({
+  packageManager: z.union([z.string(), z.null()]),
+  testCommand: z.union([z.string(), z.null()]),
+  lintCommand: z.union([z.string(), z.null()]),
+  buildCommand: z.union([z.string(), z.null()]),
+});
+
+export const preparerMetaSchema = z.object({
+  repoPath: z.string(),
+  defaultBranch: z.string(),
+  conventions: z.union([z.string(), z.null()]),
+  toolchain: toolchainSchema,
+});
+
+export type PreparerMeta = z.infer<typeof preparerMetaSchema>;
+
+const PREPARER_SYSTEM = `You are a **preparer** for a software task. Your job is to locate (or clone) the target repository locally, ensure it is up to date, and gather project context before work begins.
+
+## Responsibilities
+
+1. Parse the issue/task prompt to identify the target repository (URL, org/repo, or name).
+2. Search for an existing local clone in these locations (in order):
+   - ~/Code/<repo-name>/
+   - ~/repos/<repo-name>/
+   - ~/Code/<org>/<repo-name>/
+   - ~/repos/<org>/<repo-name>/
+3. If not found locally, \`git clone\` it into ~/repos/<repo-name>/.
+4. \`git checkout main && git pull\` (or the default branch) to ensure latest.
+5. Read project conventions: \`CLAUDE.md\`, \`CONTRIBUTING.md\`, \`.cursor/rules/*.mdc\`, \`CONVENTIONS.md\`.
+6. Detect toolchain: package manager, test runner, linter, build system.
+
+## Output
+
+Report your findings as structured data:
+- **repoPath**: absolute path to the local repo
+- **defaultBranch**: the default branch name (e.g. "main")
+- **conventions**: a summary of project conventions found, or null if none
+- **toolchain**: detected commands for packageManager, testCommand, lintCommand, buildCommand (null if not detected)`;
+
+export const preparerRole: RoleDefinition<PreparerMeta> = {
+  description:
+    "Locates or clones the target repository, ensures it is up to date, and gathers project context (conventions, toolchain).",
+  systemPrompt: PREPARER_SYSTEM,
+  extractPrompt:
+    "Extract repoPath (absolute path), defaultBranch, conventions (summary string or null), and toolchain (packageManager, testCommand, lintCommand, buildCommand — each string or null).",
+  schema: preparerMetaSchema,
+  extractRefs: null,
+};

packages/workflow-role-preparer/tsconfig.json

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig.json",
+  "compilerOptions": {
+    "rootDir": "src",
+    "outDir": "dist"
+  },
+  "include": ["src"]
+}

packages/workflow-role-reviewer/src/reviewer.ts

@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@ export const reviewerRole: RoleDefinition<ReviewerMeta> = {
   extractPrompt:
     "Extract the review verdict: approved or rejected. If rejected, list the blocking issues.",
   schema: reviewerMetaSchema,
+  extractRefs: null,
 };

packages/workflow-template-solve-issue/__tests__/solve-issue-template.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdtemp, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
 import {
+  createCasStore,
   createExtract,
   END,
   type ModeratorContext,
@@ -10,21 +14,30 @@ import {
 
 import type { CoderMeta } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-coder";
 import type { PlannerMeta } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-planner";
+import type { PreparerMeta } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-preparer";
 
 import { buildSolveIssueDescriptor } from "../src/descriptor.js";
 import { createSolveIssueRun, solveIssueModerator } from "../src/index.js";
 import type { SolveIssueMeta } from "../src/roles.js";
 
 const DEFAULT_PHASES: PlannerMeta["phases"] = [
-  { name: "phase-a", description: "Do the work", acceptance: "Done" },
+  {
+    hash: "4KNMR2PX",
+    title: "Do the work",
+  },
 ];
 
 const EXPECT_PLANNER_META: PlannerMeta = {
-  phases: [{ name: "phase-1", description: "placeholder", acceptance: "placeholder" }],
+  phases: [
+    {
+      hash: "7BQST3VW",
+      title: "placeholder phase",
+    },
+  ],
 };
 
 const EXPECT_CODER_META: CoderMeta = {
-  completedPhase: "phase-1",
+  completedPhase: "7BQST3VW",
   filesChanged: [],
   summary: "",
 };
@@ -95,25 +108,48 @@ function makeCtx(
 ): ModeratorContext<SolveIssueMeta> {
   return {
     threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR",
+    depth: 0,
     start: makeStart(maxRounds),
     steps,
   };
 }
 
+function preparerStep(): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
+  return {
+    role: "preparer",
+    contentHash: "STUBHASHPREPARER01",
+    meta: {
+      repoPath: "/home/user/repos/test",
+      defaultBranch: "main",
+      conventions: null,
+      toolchain: {
+        packageManager: "bun",
+        testCommand: "bun test",
+        lintCommand: null,
+        buildCommand: "bun run build",
+      },
+    },
+    refs: [],
+    timestamp: 0,
+  };
+}
+
 function plannerStep(phases: PlannerMeta["phases"] = DEFAULT_PHASES): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
   return {
     role: "planner",
-    content: "plan",
+    contentHash: "STUBHASHPLANNER001",
     meta: { phases },
+    refs: phases.map((p) => p.hash),
     timestamp: 1,
   };
 }
 
-function coderStep(completedPhase = "phase-a"): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
+function coderStep(completedPhase = "4KNMR2PX"): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
   return {
     role: "coder",
-    content: "code",
+    contentHash: "STUBHASHCODER00001",
     meta: { completedPhase, filesChanged: ["a.ts"], summary: "fixed" },
+    refs: [completedPhase],
     timestamp: 2,
   };
 }
@@ -121,10 +157,11 @@ function coderStep(completedPhase = "phase-a"): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
 function reviewerStep(approved: boolean): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
   return {
     role: "reviewer",
-    content: "rev",
+    contentHash: "STUBHASHREVIEWER01",
     meta: approved
       ? { status: "approved" as const }
       : { status: "rejected" as const, issues: ["needs fix"] },
+    refs: [],
     timestamp: 3,
   };
 }
@@ -132,8 +169,9 @@ function reviewerStep(approved: boolean): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
 function committerStep(): RoleStep<SolveIssueMeta> {
   return {
     role: "committer",
-    content: "commit",
+    contentHash: "STUBHASHCOMMITTER1",
     meta: { status: "committed", branch: "feat/issue-1", commitSha: "abc1234" },
+    refs: [],
     timestamp: 4,
   };
 }
@@ -145,16 +183,27 @@ const stubExtract = createExtract({
 });
 
 describe("solveIssueModerator", () => {
-  test("routes planner → coder → reviewer → committer → END", () => {
-    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, []))).toBe("planner");
-    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep()]))).toBe("coder");
-    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(), coderStep()]))).toBe("reviewer");
-    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(), coderStep(), reviewerStep(true)]))).toBe(
-      "committer",
+  test("routes preparer → planner → coder → reviewer → committer → END", () => {
+    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, []))).toBe("preparer");
+    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [preparerStep()]))).toBe("planner");
+    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [preparerStep(), plannerStep()]))).toBe("coder");
+    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [preparerStep(), plannerStep(), coderStep()]))).toBe(
+      "reviewer",
     );
     expect(
       solveIssueModerator(
-        makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(), coderStep(), reviewerStep(true), committerStep()]),
+        makeCtx(20, [preparerStep(), plannerStep(), coderStep(), reviewerStep(true)]),
+      ),
+    ).toBe("committer");
+    expect(
+      solveIssueModerator(
+        makeCtx(20, [
+          preparerStep(),
+          plannerStep(),
+          coderStep(),
+          reviewerStep(true),
+          committerStep(),
+        ]),
       ),
     ).toBe(END);
   });
@@ -179,75 +228,128 @@ describe("solveIssueModerator", () => {
 
   test("multiple planner phases → coder until all complete, then reviewer", () => {
     const phases: PlannerMeta["phases"] = [
-      { name: "p1", description: "first", acceptance: "a1" },
-      { name: "p2", description: "second", acceptance: "a2" },
+      {
+        hash: "AA000001",
+        title: "first phase",
+      },
+      {
+        hash: "AA000002",
+        title: "second phase",
+      },
     ];
     expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases)]))).toBe("coder");
-    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("p1")]))).toBe("coder");
+    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("AA000001")]))).toBe(
+      "coder",
+    );
     expect(
-      solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("p1"), coderStep("p2")])),
+      solveIssueModerator(
+        makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("AA000001"), coderStep("AA000002")]),
+      ),
     ).toBe("reviewer");
   });
 
-  test("one-shot coder reports only last phase name → reviewer (moderator treats as all phases done)", () => {
+  test("one-shot coder reports only last phase hash → reviewer (moderator treats as all phases done)", () => {
     const phases: PlannerMeta["phases"] = [
-      { name: "setup-branch", description: "branch", acceptance: "branch exists" },
-      { name: "write-tests", description: "tests", acceptance: "tests pass" },
-      { name: "verify", description: "verify", acceptance: "ok" },
-      { name: "commit-and-pr", description: "pr", acceptance: "pr open" },
+      { hash: "BB000001", title: "setup branch" },
+      { hash: "BB000002", title: "write tests" },
+      { hash: "BB000003", title: "verify" },
+      { hash: "BB000004", title: "commit and pr" },
     ];
-    expect(
-      solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("commit-and-pr")])),
-    ).toBe("reviewer");
+    expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("BB000004")]))).toBe(
+      "reviewer",
+    );
   });
 
-  test("completedPhase sentinel when not a planned name → reviewer", () => {
+  test("unrecognised completedPhase hash → coder retry when budget allows", () => {
     const phases: PlannerMeta["phases"] = [
-      { name: "p1", description: "first", acceptance: "a1" },
-      { name: "p2", description: "second", acceptance: "a2" },
+      { hash: "CC000001", title: "first phase" },
+      { hash: "CC000002", title: "second phase" },
     ];
     expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(20, [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("all-done")]))).toBe(
-      "reviewer",
+      "coder",
     );
   });
 
   test("incomplete phases → END when max rounds exhausted", () => {
     const phases: PlannerMeta["phases"] = [
-      { name: "p1", description: "first", acceptance: "a1" },
-      { name: "p2", description: "second", acceptance: "a2" },
+      { hash: "DD000001", title: "first phase" },
+      { hash: "DD000002", title: "second phase" },
+    ];
+    const steps: ModeratorContext<SolveIssueMeta>["steps"] = [
+      plannerStep(phases),
+      coderStep("DD000001"),
     ];
-    const steps: ModeratorContext<SolveIssueMeta>["steps"] = [plannerStep(phases), coderStep("p1")];
     expect(solveIssueModerator(makeCtx(3, steps))).toBe(END);
   });
 });
 
 describe("createSolveIssueRun", () => {
   let restoreFetch: (() => void) | null = null;
+  let casDir: string | undefined;
 
-  afterEach(() => {
+  afterEach(async () => {
     restoreFetch?.();
     restoreFetch = null;
+    if (casDir !== undefined) {
+      await rm(casDir, { recursive: true, force: true }).catch(() => {});
+      casDir = undefined;
+    }
   });
 
-  test("structured extraction yields planner meta from mocked chat completions", async () => {
-    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([EXPECT_PLANNER_META]);
+  test("structured extraction yields preparer then planner meta from mocked chat completions", async () => {
+    const EXPECT_PREPARER_META: PreparerMeta = {
+      repoPath: "/home/user/repos/test",
+      defaultBranch: "main",
+      conventions: null,
+      toolchain: {
+        packageManager: "bun",
+        testCommand: "bun test",
+        lintCommand: null,
+        buildCommand: "bun run build",
+      },
+    };
+    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([EXPECT_PREPARER_META, EXPECT_PLANNER_META]);
+
+    casDir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "solve-issue-cas-"));
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
 
     const run = createSolveIssueRun({ agent: async () => "" }, stubExtract);
     const gen = run(
       { prompt: "task", steps: [] },
-      { threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR", maxRounds: 20 },
+      { threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR", maxRounds: 20, depth: 0, cas },
     );
     const first = await gen.next();
     expect(first.done).toBe(false);
     if (first.done) {
       throw new Error("expected yield");
     }
-    expect(first.value.role).toBe("planner");
-    expect(first.value.meta).toEqual(EXPECT_PLANNER_META);
+    expect(first.value.role).toBe("preparer");
+    expect(first.value.meta).toEqual(EXPECT_PREPARER_META);
+
+    const second = await gen.next();
+    expect(second.done).toBe(false);
+    if (second.done) {
+      throw new Error("expected yield");
+    }
+    expect(second.value.role).toBe("planner");
+    expect(second.value.meta).toEqual(EXPECT_PLANNER_META);
   });
 
   test("per-role agent overrides default", async () => {
-    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([EXPECT_PLANNER_META, EXPECT_CODER_META]);
+    const PREPARER_META: PreparerMeta = {
+      repoPath: "/tmp/r",
+      defaultBranch: "main",
+      conventions: null,
+      toolchain: { packageManager: null, testCommand: null, lintCommand: null, buildCommand: null },
+    };
+    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([
+      PREPARER_META,
+      EXPECT_PLANNER_META,
+      EXPECT_CODER_META,
+    ]);
+
+    casDir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "solve-issue-cas-"));
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
 
     const calls: string[] = [];
     const run = createSolveIssueRun(
@@ -257,6 +359,10 @@ describe("createSolveIssueRun", () => {
           return "";
         },
         overrides: {
+          preparer: async () => {
+            calls.push("preparer");
+            return "";
+          },
           planner: async () => {
             calls.push("planner");
             return "";
@@ -271,9 +377,13 @@ describe("createSolveIssueRun", () => {
     );
     const gen = run(
       { prompt: "task", steps: [] },
-      { threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR", maxRounds: 20 },
+      { threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR", maxRounds: 20, depth: 0, cas },
     );
     await gen.next();
+    expect(calls).toEqual(["preparer"]);
+
+    calls.length = 0;
+    await gen.next();
     expect(calls).toEqual(["planner"]);
 
     calls.length = 0;
@@ -294,9 +404,10 @@ describe("buildSolveIssueDescriptor", () => {
       "coder",
       "committer",
       "planner",
+      "preparer",
       "reviewer",
     ]);
-    for (const key of ["planner", "coder", "reviewer", "committer"] as const) {
+    for (const key of ["preparer", "planner", "coder", "reviewer", "committer"] as const) {
       const role = validated.value.roles[key];
       expect(role).toBeDefined();
       expect(typeof role.schema).toBe("object");

packages/workflow-template-solve-issue/package.json

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     "@uncaged/workflow-role-committer": "workspace:*",
     "@uncaged/workflow-role-coder": "workspace:*",
     "@uncaged/workflow-role-planner": "workspace:*",
+    "@uncaged/workflow-role-preparer": "workspace:*",
     "@uncaged/workflow-role-reviewer": "workspace:*"
   }
 }

packages/workflow-template-solve-issue/src/index.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ export {
   plannerMetaSchema,
   plannerRole,
 } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-planner";
+export {
+  type PreparerMeta,
+  preparerMetaSchema,
+  preparerRole,
+} from "@uncaged/workflow-role-preparer";
 export {
   type ReviewerMeta,
   reviewerMetaSchema,

packages/workflow-template-solve-issue/src/moderator.ts

@@ -3,28 +3,23 @@ import { END } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 
 import type { SolveIssueMeta } from "./roles.js";
 
-const COMPLETED_PHASE_SENTINELS = new Set(["all-done", "all_done", "complete"]);
-
 function coderFinishedAllPlannedPhases(
-  phases: ReadonlyArray<{ name: string }>,
+  phases: ReadonlyArray<{ hash: string }>,
   coderCompletedPhases: ReadonlyArray<string>,
 ): boolean {
   if (phases.length === 0) {
     return true;
   }
-  const plannedNames = new Set(phases.map((p) => p.name));
-  const lastName = phases[phases.length - 1].name;
-  const explicit = new Set(coderCompletedPhases.filter((name) => plannedNames.has(name)));
-  if (phases.every((p) => explicit.has(p.name))) {
+  const plannedHashes = new Set(phases.map((p) => p.hash));
+  const lastHash = phases[phases.length - 1].hash;
+  const explicit = new Set(coderCompletedPhases.filter((h) => plannedHashes.has(h)));
+  if (phases.every((p) => explicit.has(p.hash))) {
     return true;
   }
-  // One-shot runs often report only the final phase; treat that as the full plan done.
-  if (coderCompletedPhases.some((name) => name === lastName)) {
+  if (coderCompletedPhases.some((h) => h === lastHash)) {
     return true;
   }
-  return coderCompletedPhases.some(
-    (name) => !plannedNames.has(name) && COMPLETED_PHASE_SENTINELS.has(name),
-  );
+  return false;
 }
 
 function nextAfterCoder(
@@ -53,11 +48,15 @@ export const solveIssueModerator: Moderator<SolveIssueMeta> = (ctx) => {
   const maxRounds = ctx.start.meta.maxRounds;
 
   if (ctx.steps.length === 0) {
-    return "planner";
+    return "preparer";
   }
 
   const last = ctx.steps[ctx.steps.length - 1];
 
+  if (last.role === "preparer") {
+    return "planner";
+  }
+
   if (last.role === "planner") {
     return "coder";
   }

packages/workflow-template-solve-issue/src/roles.ts

@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ import type { RoleDefinition } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 import { type CoderMeta, coderRole } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-coder";
 import { type CommitterMeta, committerRole } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-committer";
 import { type PlannerMeta, plannerRole } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-planner";
+import { type PreparerMeta, preparerRole } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-preparer";
 import { type ReviewerMeta, reviewerRole } from "@uncaged/workflow-role-reviewer";
 
 export const SOLVE_ISSUE_WORKFLOW_DESCRIPTION =
-  "Phased plan, incremental implementation per phase, review, and commit to resolve an issue end-to-end (planner → coder [repeat per phase] → reviewer → committer).";
+  "Prepare repo context, plan phases, implement incrementally, review, and commit to resolve an issue end-to-end (preparer → planner → coder [repeat per phase] → reviewer → committer).";
 
 export type SolveIssueMeta = {
+  preparer: PreparerMeta;
   planner: PlannerMeta;
   coder: CoderMeta;
   reviewer: ReviewerMeta;
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ export type SolveIssueRoles = {
 };
 
 export const solveIssueRoles: SolveIssueRoles = {
+  preparer: preparerRole,
   planner: plannerRole,
   coder: coderRole,
   reviewer: reviewerRole,

packages/workflow-util-agent/__tests__/build-agent-prompt.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
-import { START, type ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdtemp, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { createCasStore, putContentMerkleNode, START, type ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/workflow";
 
 import { buildAgentPrompt } from "../src/index.js";
 
@@ -13,35 +16,53 @@ function startTask(content: string): ThreadContext["start"] {
 }
 
 describe("buildAgentPrompt", () => {
-  test("includes system prompt and full task; omits tools when there are no steps", () => {
+  let casRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    casRoot = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-build-prompt-cas-"));
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await rm(casRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test("includes system prompt and full task; omits tools when there are no steps", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casRoot);
     const ctx: ThreadContext = {
       start: startTask("fix the bug"),
+      depth: 0,
       steps: [],
       threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR",
       currentRole: { name: START, systemPrompt: "You are an agent." },
+      cas,
     };
-    const text = buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
+    const text = await buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
     expect(text).toContain("You are an agent.");
     expect(text).toContain("## Task");
     expect(text).toContain("fix the bug");
     expect(text).not.toContain("## Tools");
   });
 
-  test("single step shows full content and meta, and includes tools", () => {
+  test("single step shows full content and meta, and includes tools", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casRoot);
+    const onlyHash = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "only step full body");
     const ctx: ThreadContext = {
       start: startTask("user task"),
+      depth: 0,
       threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR",
       currentRole: { name: "coder", systemPrompt: "Be helpful." },
+      cas,
       steps: [
         {
           role: "coder",
-          content: "only step full body",
+          contentHash: onlyHash,
           meta: { files: ["a.ts"] },
+          refs: [onlyHash],
           timestamp: 2,
         },
       ],
     };
-    const text = buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
+    const text = await buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
     expect(text).toContain("## Task");
     expect(text).toContain("user task");
     expect(text).toContain("## Step: coder");
@@ -51,27 +72,34 @@ describe("buildAgentPrompt", () => {
     expect(text).toContain("uncaged-workflow thread 01TEST000000000000000000TR");
   });
 
-  test("two or more steps: previous steps are meta-only; latest step is full", () => {
+  test("two or more steps: previous steps are meta-only; latest step is full", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casRoot);
+    const plannerHash = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "PLANNER_SECRET_FULL_TEXT");
+    const coderHash = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "last step full content");
     const ctx: ThreadContext = {
       start: startTask("first message full: task content here"),
+      depth: 0,
       threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR",
       currentRole: { name: "coder", systemPrompt: "System." },
+      cas,
       steps: [
         {
           role: "planner",
-          content: "PLANNER_SECRET_FULL_TEXT",
+          contentHash: plannerHash,
           meta: { plan: "short" },
+          refs: [plannerHash],
           timestamp: 2,
         },
         {
           role: "coder",
-          content: "last step full content",
+          contentHash: coderHash,
           meta: { done: true },
+          refs: [coderHash],
           timestamp: 3,
         },
       ],
     };
-    const text = buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
+    const text = await buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
     expect(text).toContain("first message full: task content here");
     expect(text).toContain("## Previous Steps");
     expect(text).toContain("### Step 1: planner");
@@ -84,33 +112,42 @@ describe("buildAgentPrompt", () => {
     expect(text).toContain("uncaged-workflow thread 01TEST000000000000000000TR");
   });
 
-  test("middle steps show meta summary only, not full content", () => {
+  test("middle steps show meta summary only, not full content", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casRoot);
+    const ha = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "HIDDEN_A");
+    const hb = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "HIDDEN_B_MIDDLE");
+    const hc = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "VISIBLE_LAST");
     const ctx: ThreadContext = {
       start: startTask("start"),
+      depth: 0,
       threadId: "01TEST000000000000000000TR",
       currentRole: { name: "c", systemPrompt: "S" },
+      cas,
       steps: [
         {
           role: "a",
-          content: "HIDDEN_A",
+          contentHash: ha,
           meta: { n: 1 },
+          refs: [ha],
           timestamp: 2,
         },
         {
           role: "b",
-          content: "HIDDEN_B_MIDDLE",
+          contentHash: hb,
           meta: { n: 2 },
+          refs: [hb],
           timestamp: 3,
         },
         {
           role: "c",
-          content: "VISIBLE_LAST",
+          contentHash: hc,
           meta: { n: 3 },
+          refs: [hc],
           timestamp: 4,
         },
       ],
     };
-    const text = buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
+    const text = await buildAgentPrompt(ctx);
     expect(text).not.toContain("HIDDEN_A");
     expect(text).not.toContain("HIDDEN_B_MIDDLE");
     expect(text).toContain('Summary: {"n":1}');

packages/workflow-util-agent/src/build-agent-prompt.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
 import type { AgentContext } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+import { getContentMerklePayload } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+async function resolveStepText(ctx: AgentContext, contentHash: string): Promise<string> {
+  const text = await getContentMerklePayload(ctx.cas, contentHash);
+  if (text === null) {
+    throw new Error(`buildAgentPrompt: missing CAS blob for ${contentHash}`);
+  }
+  return text;
+}
 
 /** Builds the full agent prompt: system instructions plus summarized thread history. */
-export function buildAgentPrompt(ctx: AgentContext): string {
+export async function buildAgentPrompt(ctx: AgentContext): Promise<string> {
   const lines: string[] = [];
   lines.push(ctx.currentRole.systemPrompt);
   lines.push("");
@@ -15,10 +24,11 @@ export function buildAgentPrompt(ctx: AgentContext): string {
 
   if (steps.length === 1) {
     const s = steps[0];
+    const body = await resolveStepText(ctx, s.contentHash);
     lines.push("");
     lines.push(`## Step: ${s.role}`);
     lines.push("");
-    lines.push(s.content);
+    lines.push(body);
     lines.push("");
     lines.push(`Meta: ${JSON.stringify(s.meta)}`);
   } else {
@@ -31,10 +41,11 @@ export function buildAgentPrompt(ctx: AgentContext): string {
       lines.push(`Summary: ${JSON.stringify(s.meta)}`);
     }
     const last = steps[steps.length - 1];
+    const lastBody = await resolveStepText(ctx, last.contentHash);
     lines.push("");
     lines.push(`## Latest Step: ${last.role}`);
     lines.push("");
-    lines.push(last.content);
+    lines.push(lastBody);
     lines.push("");
     lines.push(`Meta: ${JSON.stringify(last.meta)}`);
   }

packages/workflow/__tests__/build-descriptor.test.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ describe("buildDescriptor", () => {
           systemPrompt: "You are an analyst.",
           extractPrompt: "Extract title and count from the analysis.",
           schema,
+          extractRefs: null,
         },
       },
       moderator: () => END,

packages/workflow/__tests__/bundle-validator.test.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,19 @@ export const run = async function* (input) {
     expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  test("allows static import of @uncaged/workflow", () => {
+    const source = `${minimalDescriptor}import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export const run = async function* (_input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "x");
+  return { returnCode: 0, summary: h };
+};
+`;
+    const r = validateWorkflowBundle({ filePath: "/tmp/w.esm.js", source });
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   test("rejects wrong filename suffix", () => {
     const r = validateWorkflowBundle({
       filePath: "/tmp/w.js",

packages/workflow/__tests__/cas.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdtemp, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { createCasStore, createThreadCas } from "../src/cas.js";
+import { hashString } from "../src/hash.js";
+
+describe("cas module exports", () => {
+  test("createThreadCas is a deprecated alias of createCasStore", () => {
+    expect(createThreadCas).toBe(createCasStore);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("createCasStore", () => {
+  let casDir: string;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    casDir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "cas-test-"));
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await rm(casDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test("put returns consistent hash for same content", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const h1 = await cas.put("hello world");
+    const h2 = await cas.put("hello world");
+    expect(h1).toBe(h2);
+    expect(h1).toHaveLength(13);
+  });
+
+  test("put returns hash matching hashString", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const content = "some content to store";
+    const h = await cas.put(content);
+    expect(h).toBe(hashString(content));
+  });
+
+  test("get returns stored content", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const content = "line1\nline2\nline3";
+    const h = await cas.put(content);
+    const retrieved = await cas.get(h);
+    expect(retrieved).toBe(content);
+  });
+
+  test("get returns null for missing hash", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const result = await cas.get("0000000000000");
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("delete removes entry", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const h = await cas.put("to be deleted");
+    await cas.delete(h);
+    const result = await cas.get(h);
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("delete on missing hash does not throw", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    await cas.delete("0000000000000");
+  });
+
+  test("list returns all stored hashes", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const h1 = await cas.put("aaa");
+    const h2 = await cas.put("bbb");
+    const h3 = await cas.put("ccc");
+    const hashes = await cas.list();
+    expect(hashes.sort()).toEqual([h1, h2, h3].sort());
+  });
+
+  test("list returns empty array when cas dir does not exist", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(join(casDir, "nonexistent"));
+    const hashes = await cas.list();
+    expect(hashes).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("put is idempotent — same content written twice causes no error", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const h1 = await cas.put("idempotent");
+    const h2 = await cas.put("idempotent");
+    expect(h1).toBe(h2);
+    const content = await cas.get(h1);
+    expect(content).toBe("idempotent");
+  });
+
+  test("different content produces different hashes", async () => {
+    const cas = createCasStore(casDir);
+    const h1 = await cas.put("alpha");
+    const h2 = await cas.put("beta");
+    expect(h1).not.toBe(h2);
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/__tests__/engine.test.ts

@@ -4,10 +4,17 @@ import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import * as z from "zod/v4";
 
+import { createCasStore } from "../src/cas.js";
 import { createWorkflow } from "../src/create-workflow.js";
 import { executeThread } from "../src/engine.js";
 import { createExtract } from "../src/extract-fn.js";
 import { createLogger } from "../src/logger.js";
+import {
+  createContentMerkleNode,
+  getContentMerklePayload,
+  parseMerkleNode,
+  serializeMerkleNode,
+} from "../src/merkle.js";
 import { END } from "../src/types.js";
 
 const plannerMetaSchema = z.object({
@@ -89,12 +96,14 @@ const demoWorkflow = createWorkflow<DemoMeta>(
         systemPrompt: "You are a planner.",
         extractPrompt: "Extract plan text and affected files list.",
         schema: plannerMetaSchema,
+        extractRefs: null,
       },
       coder: {
         description: "Demo coder",
         systemPrompt: "You are a coder.",
         extractPrompt: "Extract the code diff summary.",
         schema: coderMetaSchema,
+        extractRefs: null,
       },
     },
     moderator: (ctx) => {
@@ -138,6 +147,7 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
       const dataPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
       const infoPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.info.jsonl`);
       await mkdir(join(root, "logs", hash), { recursive: true });
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
 
       const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoPath } });
       const ac = new AbortController();
@@ -148,16 +158,30 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
         { prompt: "Fix the login redirect bug in #3", steps: [] },
         {
           maxRounds: 5,
+          depth: 0,
           signal: ac.signal,
           awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
           forkSourceThreadId: null,
           prefilledDiskSteps: null,
         },
-        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath },
+        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath, cas },
         logger,
       );
 
       expect(result.returnCode).toBe(0);
+      expect(typeof result.rootHash).toBe("string");
+      expect(result.rootHash.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+      const rootYaml = await cas.get(result.rootHash);
+      expect(rootYaml).not.toBeNull();
+      const rootNode = parseMerkleNode(rootYaml ?? "");
+      expect(rootNode.type).toBe("thread");
+      const rootPayload = rootNode.payload as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(rootPayload.workflow).toBe("demo-flow");
+      expect(rootPayload.threadId).toBe(threadId);
+      const rootResult = rootPayload.result as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(rootResult.returnCode).toBe(0);
+      expect(rootNode.children.length).toBe(2);
 
       const dataText = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
       const lines = dataText
@@ -176,16 +200,34 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
       expect(params.prompt).toBe("Fix the login redirect bug in #3");
       const opts = params.options as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(opts.maxRounds).toBe(5);
-      expect(Object.keys(opts).sort()).toEqual(["maxRounds"]);
+      expect(opts.depth).toBe(0);
+      expect(Object.keys(opts).sort()).toEqual(["depth", "maxRounds"]);
 
       const role1 = JSON.parse(lines[1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(role1.role).toBe("planner");
-      expect(role1.content).toBe("plan-body");
+      expect(typeof role1.contentHash).toBe("string");
+      expect(await getContentMerklePayload(cas, String(role1.contentHash))).toBe("plan-body");
       expect(role1.meta).toEqual({ plan: "do-it", files: ["a.ts"] });
+      expect(role1.refs).toEqual([role1.contentHash]);
       expect(typeof role1.timestamp).toBe("number");
 
       const role2 = JSON.parse(lines[2] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(role2.role).toBe("coder");
+      expect(role2.refs).toEqual([role2.contentHash]);
+
+      const step1Yaml = await cas.get(rootNode.children[0] ?? "");
+      const step2Yaml = await cas.get(rootNode.children[1] ?? "");
+      expect(step1Yaml).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(step2Yaml).not.toBeNull();
+      const step1Node = parseMerkleNode(step1Yaml ?? "");
+      const step2Node = parseMerkleNode(step2Yaml ?? "");
+      expect(step1Node.type).toBe("step");
+      expect(step2Node.type).toBe("step");
+      expect(step1Node.children).toEqual([String(role1.contentHash)]);
+      expect(step2Node.children).toEqual([String(role2.contentHash)]);
+      const step1Payload = step1Node.payload as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(step1Payload.role).toBe("planner");
+      expect(step1Payload.meta).toEqual({ plan: "do-it", files: ["a.ts"] });
 
       const infoText = await readFile(infoPath, "utf8");
       const infoLines = infoText
@@ -213,11 +255,14 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
       const dataPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
       const infoPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.info.jsonl`);
       await mkdir(join(root, "logs", hash), { recursive: true });
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
+      const plannerHash = await cas.put(serializeMerkleNode(createContentMerkleNode("plan-body")));
 
       const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoPath } });
       const ac = new AbortController();
 
       const histTs = 9_000_000;
+      const mergedPlannerRefs = ["CAS111AAAAAAA", plannerHash];
       const result = await executeThread(
         demoWorkflow,
         "demo-flow",
@@ -226,30 +271,38 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
           steps: [
             {
               role: "planner",
-              content: "plan-body",
+              contentHash: plannerHash,
               meta: { plan: "do-it", files: ["a.ts"] },
+              refs: mergedPlannerRefs,
             },
           ],
         },
         {
           maxRounds: 5,
+          depth: 0,
           signal: ac.signal,
           awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
           forkSourceThreadId: "01SRC1111111111111111111",
           prefilledDiskSteps: [
             {
               role: "planner",
-              content: "plan-body",
+              contentHash: plannerHash,
               meta: { plan: "do-it", files: ["a.ts"] },
+              refs: mergedPlannerRefs,
               timestamp: histTs,
             },
           ],
         },
-        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath },
+        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath, cas },
         logger,
       );
 
       expect(result.returnCode).toBe(0);
+      expect(typeof result.rootHash).toBe("string");
+
+      const rootYaml = await cas.get(result.rootHash);
+      const rootNode = parseMerkleNode(rootYaml ?? "");
+      expect(rootNode.children.length).toBe(2);
 
       const dataText = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
       const lines = dataText
@@ -264,10 +317,11 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
       const role0 = JSON.parse(lines[1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(role0.role).toBe("planner");
       expect(role0.timestamp).toBe(histTs);
+      expect(role0.refs).toEqual(mergedPlannerRefs);
 
       const role1 = JSON.parse(lines[2] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(role1.role).toBe("coder");
-      expect(role1.content).toBe("code-body");
+      expect(await getContentMerklePayload(cas, String(role1.contentHash))).toBe("code-body");
     } finally {
       await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
@@ -281,6 +335,7 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
       const dataPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
       const infoPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.info.jsonl`);
       await mkdir(join(root, "logs", hash), { recursive: true });
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
 
       const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoPath } });
       const ac = new AbortController();
@@ -291,16 +346,23 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
         { prompt: "hello", steps: [] },
         {
           maxRounds: 0,
+          depth: 0,
           signal: ac.signal,
           awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
           forkSourceThreadId: null,
           prefilledDiskSteps: null,
         },
-        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath },
+        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath, cas },
         logger,
       );
 
       expect(result.returnCode).toBe(0);
+      expect(typeof result.rootHash).toBe("string");
+
+      const rootYaml = await cas.get(result.rootHash);
+      const rootNode = parseMerkleNode(rootYaml ?? "");
+      expect(rootNode.type).toBe("thread");
+      expect(rootNode.children.length).toBe(0);
 
       const dataText = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
       const lines = dataText
@@ -312,4 +374,75 @@ describe("executeThread", () => {
       await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
   });
+
+  test("Merkle DAG: root → step nodes → content for full thread traversal", async () => {
+    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([
+      { plan: "do-it", files: ["a.ts"] },
+      { diff: "+ok" },
+    ]);
+
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-engine-dag-"));
+    try {
+      const threadId = "01KQXKW18CT8G75T53R8F4G7YG";
+      const hash = "C9NMV6V2TQT81";
+      const dataPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
+      const infoPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.info.jsonl`);
+      await mkdir(join(root, "logs", hash), { recursive: true });
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
+
+      const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoPath } });
+      const ac = new AbortController();
+
+      const result = await executeThread(
+        demoWorkflow,
+        "demo-flow",
+        { prompt: "DAG test", steps: [] },
+        {
+          maxRounds: 5,
+          depth: 0,
+          signal: ac.signal,
+          awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
+          forkSourceThreadId: null,
+          prefilledDiskSteps: null,
+        },
+        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath, cas },
+        logger,
+      );
+
+      const dataText = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
+      const lines = dataText
+        .trim()
+        .split("\n")
+        .filter((l) => l !== "");
+      expect(lines.length).toBe(3);
+
+      const rolePlanner = JSON.parse(lines[1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
+      const roleCoder = JSON.parse(lines[2] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
+
+      const threadYaml = await cas.get(result.rootHash);
+      expect(threadYaml).not.toBeNull();
+      const threadNode = parseMerkleNode(threadYaml ?? "");
+      expect(threadNode.type).toBe("thread");
+
+      const bodies: string[] = [];
+      for (const stepHash of threadNode.children) {
+        const stepYaml = await cas.get(stepHash);
+        expect(stepYaml).not.toBeNull();
+        const stepNode = parseMerkleNode(stepYaml ?? "");
+        expect(stepNode.type).toBe("step");
+        expect(stepNode.children.length).toBe(1);
+        const contentHash = stepNode.children[0];
+        expect(contentHash).toBeDefined();
+        const body = await getContentMerklePayload(cas, contentHash ?? "");
+        expect(body).not.toBeNull();
+        bodies.push(body ?? "");
+      }
+
+      expect(bodies.sort()).toEqual(["code-body", "plan-body"].sort());
+      expect(rolePlanner.role).toBe("planner");
+      expect(roleCoder.role).toBe("coder");
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
 });

packages/workflow/__tests__/fork-thread.test.ts

@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import {
 } from "../src/fork-thread.js";
 
 const sampleDataJsonl = `{"name":"demo","hash":"C9NMV6V2TQT81","threadId":"01AAA1111111111111111111","parameters":{"prompt":"hi","options":{"maxRounds":5}},"timestamp":100}
-{"role":"planner","content":"p","meta":{},"timestamp":101}
-{"role":"coder","content":"c","meta":{},"timestamp":102}
-{"role":"reviewer","content":"r","meta":{},"timestamp":103}
+{"role":"planner","contentHash":"HP0000000000000000000001","meta":{},"refs":[],"timestamp":101}
+{"role":"coder","contentHash":"HP0000000000000000000002","meta":{},"refs":[],"timestamp":102}
+{"role":"reviewer","contentHash":"HP0000000000000000000003","meta":{},"refs":[],"timestamp":103}
 `;
 
 describe("fork-thread", () => {
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ describe("fork-thread", () => {
     expect(r.value.start.threadId).toBe("01AAA1111111111111111111");
     expect(r.value.start.prompt).toBe("hi");
     expect(r.value.start.maxRounds).toBe(5);
+    expect(r.value.start.depth).toBe(0);
     expect(r.value.roleSteps.length).toBe(3);
     expect(r.value.roleSteps[0]?.role).toBe("planner");
   });
@@ -83,6 +84,24 @@ describe("fork-thread", () => {
     expect(r.value.workflowName).toBe("demo");
     expect(r.value.historicalSteps.length).toBe(1);
     expect(r.value.historicalSteps[0]?.timestamp).toBe(101);
-    expect(r.value.runOptions).toEqual({ maxRounds: 5 });
+    expect(r.value.runOptions).toEqual({ maxRounds: 5, depth: 0 });
+  });
+
+  test("parseThreadDataJsonl reads explicit depth from start record", () => {
+    const text = `{"name":"demo","hash":"H","threadId":"01ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ","parameters":{"prompt":"p","options":{"maxRounds":3,"depth":2}},"timestamp":1}
+{"role":"planner","contentHash":"HP0000000000000000000099","meta":{},"refs":[],"timestamp":2}
+`;
+    const r = parseThreadDataJsonl(text);
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!r.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(r.value.start.depth).toBe(2);
+    const plan = buildForkPlan(text, null);
+    expect(plan.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!plan.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(plan.value.runOptions).toEqual({ maxRounds: 3, depth: 2 });
   });
 });

packages/workflow/__tests__/merkle.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+
+import { createContentMerkleNode, parseMerkleNode, serializeMerkleNode } from "../src/merkle.js";
+
+describe("merkle", () => {
+  test("content node roundtrips through YAML", () => {
+    const node = createContentMerkleNode("hello\nworld");
+    const yaml = serializeMerkleNode(node);
+    const back = parseMerkleNode(yaml);
+    expect(back).toEqual(node);
+  });
+
+  test("step node with object payload roundtrips", () => {
+    const node = {
+      type: "step" as const,
+      payload: { role: "planner", foo: 1 },
+      children: ["ABC123", "DEF456"],
+    };
+    const yaml = serializeMerkleNode(node);
+    const back = parseMerkleNode(yaml);
+    expect(back.type).toBe("step");
+    expect(back.payload).toEqual({ role: "planner", foo: 1 });
+    expect(back.children).toEqual(["ABC123", "DEF456"]);
+  });
+
+  test("parse rejects invalid YAML root", () => {
+    expect(() => parseMerkleNode("[]")).toThrow();
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/__tests__/refs-tracking.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import * as z from "zod/v4";
+
+import { createCasStore } from "../src/cas.js";
+import { createWorkflow } from "../src/create-workflow.js";
+import { executeThread } from "../src/engine.js";
+import { createExtract } from "../src/extract-fn.js";
+import { buildForkPlan, parseThreadDataJsonl } from "../src/fork-thread.js";
+import { createLogger } from "../src/logger.js";
+import { END } from "../src/types.js";
+
+const phaseSchema = z.object({
+  hash: z.string(),
+  title: z.string(),
+});
+
+const plannerMetaSchema = z.object({
+  phases: z.array(phaseSchema),
+});
+
+type RefsDemoMeta = {
+  planner: z.infer<typeof plannerMetaSchema>;
+};
+
+function installMockChatCompletions(sequence: ReadonlyArray<Record<string, unknown>>): () => void {
+  const origFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+  let i = 0;
+  const mockFetch = async (
+    input: Parameters<typeof fetch>[0],
+    init?: RequestInit,
+  ): Promise<Response> => {
+    const args = sequence[i] ?? sequence[sequence.length - 1];
+    if (args === undefined) {
+      throw new Error("installMockChatCompletions: empty sequence");
+    }
+    i += 1;
+    void input;
+    const body = init?.body ? (JSON.parse(String(init.body)) as Record<string, unknown>) : {};
+    const tools = body.tools;
+    const firstTool =
+      Array.isArray(tools) && tools.length > 0 && tools[0] !== null && typeof tools[0] === "object"
+        ? (tools[0] as Record<string, unknown>)
+        : null;
+    const fn =
+      firstTool !== null ? (firstTool.function as Record<string, unknown> | undefined) : undefined;
+    const toolName = typeof fn?.name === "string" ? fn.name : "extract";
+    return new Response(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        choices: [
+          {
+            message: {
+              tool_calls: [
+                {
+                  type: "function",
+                  function: {
+                    name: toolName,
+                    arguments: JSON.stringify(args),
+                  },
+                },
+              ],
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+      { status: 200, headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" } },
+    );
+  };
+  globalThis.fetch = Object.assign(mockFetch, {
+    preconnect: origFetch.preconnect.bind(origFetch),
+  }) as typeof fetch;
+  return () => {
+    globalThis.fetch = origFetch;
+  };
+}
+
+const refsDemoExtract = createExtract({
+  baseUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:9",
+  apiKey: "test",
+  model: "test",
+});
+
+const refsDemoWorkflow = createWorkflow<RefsDemoMeta>(
+  {
+    roles: {
+      planner: {
+        description: "Planner with phase hashes",
+        systemPrompt: "Plan.",
+        extractPrompt: "Extract phases with CAS hashes.",
+        schema: plannerMetaSchema,
+        extractRefs: (meta) => meta.phases.map((p) => p.hash),
+      },
+    },
+    moderator: (ctx) => (ctx.steps.length === 0 ? "planner" : END),
+  },
+  {
+    agent: async () => "plan-output",
+  },
+  refsDemoExtract,
+);
+
+describe("RoleStep refs tracking", () => {
+  let restoreFetch: (() => void) | null = null;
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    restoreFetch?.();
+    restoreFetch = null;
+  });
+
+  test("parseThreadDataJsonl reads refs and defaults missing refs to []", () => {
+    const text = `{"name":"demo","hash":"C9NMV6V2TQT81","threadId":"01AAA1111111111111111111","parameters":{"prompt":"hi","options":{"maxRounds":5}},"timestamp":100}
+{"role":"planner","contentHash":"HPAYLOAD111111","meta":{},"refs":["H111AAAAAAAAA","H222AAAAAAAAA"],"timestamp":101}
+{"role":"coder","contentHash":"HPAYLOAD222222","meta":{},"timestamp":102}
+`;
+    const r = parseThreadDataJsonl(text);
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!r.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(r.value.roleSteps[0]?.refs).toEqual(["H111AAAAAAAAA", "H222AAAAAAAAA"]);
+    expect(r.value.roleSteps[1]?.refs).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("executeThread persists refs from extractRefs on role yields", async () => {
+    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([
+      {
+        phases: [
+          { hash: "C9NMV6V2TQT81", title: "phase-a" },
+          { hash: "C9NMV6V2TQT82", title: "phase-b" },
+        ],
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-refs-"));
+    try {
+      const threadId = "01KQXKW18CT8G75T53R8F4G7YG";
+      const hash = "C9NMV6V2TQT81";
+      const dataPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
+      const infoPath = join(root, "logs", hash, `${threadId}.info.jsonl`);
+      await mkdir(join(root, "logs", hash), { recursive: true });
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
+
+      const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoPath } });
+      const ac = new AbortController();
+
+      const result = await executeThread(
+        refsDemoWorkflow,
+        "refs-demo",
+        { prompt: "task", steps: [] },
+        {
+          maxRounds: 5,
+          depth: 0,
+          signal: ac.signal,
+          awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
+          forkSourceThreadId: null,
+          prefilledDiskSteps: null,
+        },
+        { threadId, hash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath, cas },
+        logger,
+      );
+
+      expect(result.returnCode).toBe(0);
+      expect(typeof result.rootHash).toBe("string");
+      expect(result.rootHash.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+      const dataText = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
+      const lines = dataText
+        .trim()
+        .split("\n")
+        .filter((l) => l !== "");
+      expect(lines.length).toBe(2);
+
+      const role1 = JSON.parse(lines[1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(role1.role).toBe("planner");
+      const refs = role1.refs as string[];
+      expect(refs).toContain("C9NMV6V2TQT81");
+      expect(refs).toContain("C9NMV6V2TQT82");
+      expect(typeof role1.contentHash).toBe("string");
+      expect(refs).toContain(String(role1.contentHash));
+      expect(refs.length).toBe(3);
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("buildForkPlan carries refs on historical steps", () => {
+    const text = `{"name":"demo","hash":"C9NMV6V2TQT81","threadId":"01AAA1111111111111111111","parameters":{"prompt":"hi","options":{"maxRounds":5}},"timestamp":100}
+{"role":"planner","contentHash":"HP111111111111","meta":{},"refs":["KEEPREFAAAAAA"],"timestamp":101}
+{"role":"coder","contentHash":"HP222222222222","meta":{},"refs":["CODERHASHAAAA"],"timestamp":102}
+`;
+    const plan = buildForkPlan(text, null);
+    expect(plan.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!plan.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(plan.value.historicalSteps.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(plan.value.historicalSteps[0]?.refs).toEqual(["KEEPREFAAAAAA"]);
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/__tests__/storage-root.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot, getGlobalCasDir } from "../src/storage-root.js";
+
+describe("getGlobalCasDir", () => {
+  test("joins cas segment under explicit storage root", () => {
+    expect(getGlobalCasDir("/tmp/wf-root")).toBe(join("/tmp/wf-root", "cas"));
+  });
+
+  test("defaults to default workflow root when storage root is undefined", () => {
+    expect(getGlobalCasDir(undefined)).toBe(join(getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot(), "cas"));
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/__tests__/thread-jsonl-format.test.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ describe("RFC-001 thread JSONL shapes", () => {
         prompt: "Fix the login redirect bug in #3",
         options: {
           maxRounds: 5,
+          depth: 0,
         },
       },
       timestamp: 1714963200000,
@@ -17,15 +18,18 @@ describe("RFC-001 thread JSONL shapes", () => {
 
     const roleRecord = {
       role: "planner",
-      content: "Plan: modify auth middleware...",
+      contentHash: "CPHASH000000000000000001",
       meta: { plan: "...", files: ["src/auth.ts"] },
+      refs: [] as string[],
       timestamp: 1714963201000,
     };
 
     expect(Object.keys(startRecord).sort()).toEqual(
       ["hash", "name", "parameters", "threadId", "timestamp"].sort(),
     );
-    expect(Object.keys(roleRecord).sort()).toEqual(["content", "meta", "role", "timestamp"].sort());
+    expect(Object.keys(roleRecord).sort()).toEqual(
+      ["contentHash", "meta", "refs", "role", "timestamp"].sort(),
+    );
   });
 
   test("documents the `.info.jsonl` debug record keys", () => {

packages/workflow/__tests__/worker.test.ts

@@ -5,22 +5,29 @@ import { createConnection } from "node:net";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 
+import { createCasStore } from "../src/cas.js";
+import { createContentMerkleNode, serializeMerkleNode } from "../src/merkle.js";
 import { getWorkerHostScriptPath } from "../src/worker-entry-path.js";
 
-const bundleSource = `export const descriptor = {
+const bundleSource = `import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export const descriptor = {
   description: "worker-test",
   roles: {
     planner: { description: "planner", schema: {} },
     coder: { description: "coder", schema: {} },
   },
 };
-export const run = async function* (input) {
+export const run = async function* (input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
   const has = (r) => input.steps.some((s) => s.role === r);
   if (!has("planner")) {
-    yield { role: "planner", content: "p", meta: { plan: input.prompt } };
+    const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "p");
+    yield { role: "planner", contentHash: h, meta: { plan: input.prompt }, refs: [h] };
   }
   if (!has("coder")) {
-    yield { role: "coder", content: "c", meta: { diff: "y" } };
+    const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "c");
+    yield { role: "coder", contentHash: h, meta: { diff: "y" }, refs: [h] };
   }
   return { returnCode: 0, summary: "completed: moderator returned END" };
 };
@@ -102,7 +109,7 @@ describe("worker process", () => {
         threadId,
         workflowName: "demo-flow",
         prompt: "hello",
-        options: { maxRounds: 5 },
+        options: { maxRounds: 5, depth: 0 },
       });
 
       const exitCode: number = await new Promise((resolve) => {
@@ -143,6 +150,11 @@ describe("worker process", () => {
 
       const port = await readReadyPort(child);
 
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
+      const plannerReplayHash = await cas.put(
+        serializeMerkleNode(createContentMerkleNode("p-old")),
+      );
+
       const threadId = "01KQXKW18CT8G75T53R8F4G7YG";
       const srcId = "01SRCMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM";
       await sendJson(port, {
@@ -150,12 +162,13 @@ describe("worker process", () => {
         threadId,
         workflowName: "demo-flow",
         prompt: "hello",
-        options: { maxRounds: 5 },
+        options: { maxRounds: 5, depth: 0 },
         steps: [
           {
             role: "planner",
-            content: "p-old",
+            contentHash: plannerReplayHash,
             meta: { plan: "z" },
+            refs: [plannerReplayHash],
             timestamp: 555,
           },
         ],

packages/workflow/__tests__/workflow-as-agent-integration.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readdir, readFile, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import * as z from "zod/v4";
+
+import { createCasStore } from "../src/cas.js";
+import { createWorkflow } from "../src/create-workflow.js";
+import { executeThread } from "../src/engine.js";
+import { createExtract } from "../src/extract-fn.js";
+import { hashWorkflowBundleBytes } from "../src/hash.js";
+import { createLogger } from "../src/logger.js";
+import { getContentMerklePayload, parseMerkleNode } from "../src/merkle.js";
+import {
+  readWorkflowRegistry,
+  registerWorkflowVersion,
+  writeWorkflowRegistry,
+} from "../src/registry.js";
+import { END } from "../src/types.js";
+import { workflowAsAgent } from "../src/workflow-as-agent.js";
+
+const callerMetaSchema = z.object({ done: z.literal(true) });
+
+type ParentMeta = {
+  caller: z.infer<typeof callerMetaSchema>;
+};
+
+function installMockChatCompletions(sequence: ReadonlyArray<Record<string, unknown>>): () => void {
+  const origFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+  let i = 0;
+  const mockFetch = async (
+    input: Parameters<typeof fetch>[0],
+    init?: RequestInit,
+  ): Promise<Response> => {
+    const args = sequence[i] ?? sequence[sequence.length - 1];
+    if (args === undefined) {
+      throw new Error("installMockChatCompletions: empty sequence");
+    }
+    i += 1;
+    void input;
+    const body = init?.body ? (JSON.parse(String(init.body)) as Record<string, unknown>) : {};
+    const tools = body.tools;
+    const firstTool =
+      Array.isArray(tools) && tools.length > 0 && tools[0] !== null && typeof tools[0] === "object"
+        ? (tools[0] as Record<string, unknown>)
+        : null;
+    const fn =
+      firstTool !== null ? (firstTool.function as Record<string, unknown> | undefined) : undefined;
+    const toolName = typeof fn?.name === "string" ? fn.name : "extract";
+    return new Response(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        choices: [
+          {
+            message: {
+              tool_calls: [
+                {
+                  type: "function",
+                  function: {
+                    name: toolName,
+                    arguments: JSON.stringify(args),
+                  },
+                },
+              ],
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+      { status: 200, headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" } },
+    );
+  };
+  globalThis.fetch = Object.assign(mockFetch, {
+    preconnect: origFetch.preconnect.bind(origFetch),
+  }) as typeof fetch;
+  return () => {
+    globalThis.fetch = origFetch;
+  };
+}
+
+const parentExtract = createExtract({
+  baseUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:9",
+  apiKey: "test",
+  model: "test",
+});
+
+const childBundleSource = `import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export const descriptor = {
+  description: "child-integration",
+  roles: {
+    agent: {
+      description: "agent",
+      schema: { type: "object", properties: {}, additionalProperties: true },
+    },
+  },
+};
+export async function* run(input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "child-body");
+  yield { role: "agent", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
+  return { returnCode: 0, summary: "child-done:" + input.prompt };
+}
+`;
+
+async function installChildWorkflow(storageRoot: string): Promise<{ hash: string }> {
+  const bytes = new TextEncoder().encode(childBundleSource);
+  const hash = hashWorkflowBundleBytes(bytes);
+  await mkdir(join(storageRoot, "bundles"), { recursive: true });
+  await writeFile(join(storageRoot, "bundles", `${hash}.esm.js`), childBundleSource, "utf8");
+  const reg = await readWorkflowRegistry(storageRoot);
+  if (!reg.ok) {
+    throw reg.error;
+  }
+  const next = registerWorkflowVersion(reg.value, "child-wf", hash, Date.now());
+  const wr = await writeWorkflowRegistry(storageRoot, next);
+  if (!wr.ok) {
+    throw wr.error;
+  }
+  return { hash };
+}
+
+describe("workflowAsAgent integration", () => {
+  let restoreFetch: (() => void) | null = null;
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    restoreFetch?.();
+    restoreFetch = null;
+  });
+
+  test("createWorkflow parent invokes nested workflow via workflowAsAgent", async () => {
+    restoreFetch = installMockChatCompletions([{ done: true }]);
+
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-waa-int-"));
+    try {
+      const { hash: childHash } = await installChildWorkflow(root);
+
+      const parentWorkflow = createWorkflow<ParentMeta>(
+        {
+          roles: {
+            caller: {
+              description: "delegates to child workflow",
+              systemPrompt: "system",
+              extractPrompt: "extract done flag",
+              schema: callerMetaSchema,
+              extractRefs: null,
+            },
+          },
+          moderator: (ctx) => (ctx.steps.length === 0 ? "caller" : END),
+        },
+        { agent: workflowAsAgent("child-wf", { storageRoot: root }) },
+        parentExtract,
+      );
+
+      const threadId = "01KQXKW18CT8G75T53R8F4G7YG";
+      const parentHash = "C9NMV6V2TQT81";
+      const dataPath = join(root, "logs", parentHash, `${threadId}.data.jsonl`);
+      const infoPath = join(root, "logs", parentHash, `${threadId}.info.jsonl`);
+      await mkdir(join(root, "logs", parentHash), { recursive: true });
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
+
+      const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoPath } });
+      const ac = new AbortController();
+
+      const result = await executeThread(
+        parentWorkflow,
+        "parent-wf",
+        { prompt: "from-parent", steps: [] },
+        {
+          maxRounds: 5,
+          depth: 0,
+          signal: ac.signal,
+          awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
+          forkSourceThreadId: null,
+          prefilledDiskSteps: null,
+        },
+        { threadId, hash: parentHash, dataJsonlPath: dataPath, infoJsonlPath: infoPath, cas },
+        logger,
+      );
+
+      expect(result.returnCode).toBe(0);
+      expect(typeof result.rootHash).toBe("string");
+
+      const parentText = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
+      const parentLines = parentText
+        .trim()
+        .split("\n")
+        .filter((l) => l !== "");
+      expect(parentLines.length).toBe(2);
+      const callerLine = JSON.parse(parentLines[1] ?? "{}") as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(callerLine.role).toBe("caller");
+      const childRootHash = await getContentMerklePayload(cas, String(callerLine.contentHash));
+      expect(childRootHash).not.toBeNull();
+      const childThreadYaml = await cas.get(childRootHash ?? "");
+      expect(childThreadYaml).not.toBeNull();
+      const childThreadNode = parseMerkleNode(childThreadYaml ?? "");
+      expect(childThreadNode.type).toBe("thread");
+      const childPayload = childThreadNode.payload as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(childPayload.workflow).toBe("child-wf");
+      const childResult = childPayload.result as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(childResult.summary).toBe("child-done:from-parent");
+
+      const childDir = join(root, "logs", childHash);
+      const childFiles = await readdir(childDir);
+      const childDataName = childFiles.find((n) => n.endsWith(".data.jsonl"));
+      expect(childDataName).toBeDefined();
+
+      const childText = await readFile(join(childDir, childDataName ?? ""), "utf8");
+      const childStart = JSON.parse(
+        childText
+          .trim()
+          .split("\n")
+          .filter((l) => l !== "")[0] ?? "{}",
+      ) as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(childStart.forkFrom).toEqual({ threadId });
+      const childOpts = (childStart.parameters as Record<string, unknown>).options as Record<
+        string,
+        unknown
+      >;
+      expect(childOpts.depth).toBe(1);
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/__tests__/workflow-as-agent.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { createCasStore } from "../src/cas.js";
+import { hashWorkflowBundleBytes } from "../src/hash.js";
+import { parseMerkleNode } from "../src/merkle.js";
+import {
+  readWorkflowRegistry,
+  registerWorkflowVersion,
+  writeWorkflowRegistry,
+} from "../src/registry.js";
+import { type AgentContext, START } from "../src/types.js";
+import { workflowAsAgent } from "../src/workflow-as-agent.js";
+
+function makeAgentCtx(params: {
+  storageRoot: string;
+  depth: number;
+  prompt: string;
+  maxRounds: number;
+}): AgentContext {
+  const ts = Date.now();
+  return {
+    threadId: "01PARENT000000000000000001AA",
+    depth: params.depth,
+    start: {
+      role: START,
+      content: params.prompt,
+      meta: { maxRounds: params.maxRounds },
+      timestamp: ts,
+    },
+    steps: [],
+    currentRole: {
+      name: "caller",
+      systemPrompt: "caller",
+    },
+    cas: createCasStore(join(params.storageRoot, "agent-ctx-cas")),
+  };
+}
+
+const childBundleSource = `import { putContentMerkleNode } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+export const descriptor = {
+  description: "child-test",
+  roles: {
+    agent: {
+      description: "agent",
+      schema: { type: "object", properties: {}, additionalProperties: true },
+    },
+  },
+};
+export async function* run(input, options) {
+  const cas = options.cas;
+  const h = await putContentMerkleNode(cas, "child-body");
+  yield { role: "agent", contentHash: h, meta: {}, refs: [h] };
+  return { returnCode: 0, summary: "child-done:" + input.prompt };
+}
+`;
+
+async function installChildWorkflow(storageRoot: string): Promise<{ hash: string }> {
+  const bytes = new TextEncoder().encode(childBundleSource);
+  const hash = hashWorkflowBundleBytes(bytes);
+  await mkdir(join(storageRoot, "bundles"), { recursive: true });
+  await writeFile(join(storageRoot, "bundles", `${hash}.esm.js`), childBundleSource, "utf8");
+  const reg = await readWorkflowRegistry(storageRoot);
+  if (!reg.ok) {
+    throw reg.error;
+  }
+  const next = registerWorkflowVersion(reg.value, "child-wf", hash, Date.now());
+  const wr = await writeWorkflowRegistry(storageRoot, next);
+  if (!wr.ok) {
+    throw wr.error;
+  }
+  return { hash };
+}
+
+describe("workflowAsAgent", () => {
+  test("returns error when workflow name is not registered", async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-waa-missing-"));
+    try {
+      const agent = workflowAsAgent("missing-wf", { storageRoot: root });
+      const out = await agent(
+        makeAgentCtx({ storageRoot: root, depth: 0, prompt: "x", maxRounds: 5 }),
+      );
+      expect(out).toContain("not found in registry");
+      expect(out).toContain("missing-wf");
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("runs registered workflow and returns child thread root CAS hash", async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-waa-ok-"));
+    try {
+      await installChildWorkflow(root);
+      const agent = workflowAsAgent("child-wf", { storageRoot: root });
+      const out = await agent(
+        makeAgentCtx({ storageRoot: root, depth: 0, prompt: "hello-parent", maxRounds: 5 }),
+      );
+      const cas = createCasStore(join(root, "cas"));
+      const threadYaml = await cas.get(out);
+      expect(threadYaml).not.toBeNull();
+      const node = parseMerkleNode(threadYaml ?? "");
+      expect(node.type).toBe("thread");
+      const payload = node.payload as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(payload.workflow).toBe("child-wf");
+      const resultObj = payload.result as Record<string, unknown>;
+      expect(resultObj.summary).toBe("child-done:hello-parent");
+      expect(node.children.length).toBe(1);
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("enforces depth limit (returns error string, does not throw)", async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wf-waa-depth-"));
+    try {
+      const agent = workflowAsAgent("child-wf", { storageRoot: root });
+      const out = await agent(
+        makeAgentCtx({ storageRoot: root, depth: 3, prompt: "x", maxRounds: 5 }),
+      );
+      expect(out).toContain("depth limit");
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/__tests__/workflow-descriptor.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { validateWorkflowDescriptor } from "../src/workflow-descriptor.js";
+
+describe("validateWorkflowDescriptor", () => {
+  // 1. Valid minimal descriptor
+  test("accepts a minimal descriptor with empty roles", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: "x", roles: {} });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      expect(result.value.description).toBe("x");
+      expect(result.value.roles).toEqual({});
+    }
+  });
+
+  // 2. Valid descriptor with one role
+  test("accepts a descriptor with one role", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "workflow",
+      roles: {
+        solver: { description: "solves things", schema: { type: "object" } },
+      },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      expect(result.value.description).toBe("workflow");
+      expect(result.value.roles.solver.description).toBe("solves things");
+      expect(result.value.roles.solver.schema).toEqual({ type: "object" });
+    }
+  });
+
+  // 3. Valid descriptor with multiple roles
+  test("accepts a descriptor with multiple roles", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "multi",
+      roles: {
+        a: { description: "role a", schema: {} },
+        b: { description: "role b", schema: { type: "string" } },
+      },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      expect(Object.keys(result.value.roles)).toEqual(["a", "b"]);
+    }
+  });
+
+  // 4-6. Root is null / array / string / number / undefined
+  test("rejects null", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor(null);
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects an array", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor([]);
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects a string", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor("hello");
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects a number", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor(42);
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects undefined", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor(undefined);
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  // 7-8. Missing or non-string description
+  test("rejects missing description", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ roles: {} });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.description must be a string");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects numeric description", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: 123, roles: {} });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.description must be a string");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects null description", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: null, roles: {} });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.description must be a string");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects boolean description", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: true, roles: {} });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.description must be a string");
+  });
+
+  // 9-11. Missing / null / array roles
+  test("rejects missing roles", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: "x" });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects null roles", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: "x", roles: null });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects array roles", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: "x", roles: [] });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  // 12-13. Role entry is null / array
+  test("rejects null role entry", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: "x", roles: { bad: null } });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.bad must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects array role entry", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({ description: "x", roles: { bad: [] } });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.bad must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  // 14-15. Role missing description / non-string description
+  test("rejects role with missing description", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "x",
+      roles: { r: { schema: {} } },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.r.description must be a string");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects role with non-string description", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "x",
+      roles: { r: { description: 99, schema: {} } },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.r.description must be a string");
+  });
+
+  // 16-18. Role schema null / array / missing
+  test("rejects role with null schema", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "x",
+      roles: { r: { description: "d", schema: null } },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok)
+      expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.r.schema must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects role with array schema", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "x",
+      roles: { r: { description: "d", schema: [] } },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok)
+      expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.r.schema must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  test("rejects role with missing schema", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "x",
+      roles: { r: { description: "d" } },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok)
+      expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.r.schema must be a non-array object");
+  });
+
+  // 19. First role valid, second role invalid
+  test("rejects at first invalid role when earlier roles are valid", () => {
+    const result = validateWorkflowDescriptor({
+      description: "x",
+      roles: {
+        good: { description: "ok", schema: {} },
+        bad: { description: 123, schema: {} },
+      },
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error).toBe("descriptor.roles.bad.description must be a string");
+  });
+});

packages/workflow/src/bundle-import-env.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+
+/**
+ * Dynamic-import a workflow bundle path (see {@link extractBundleExports} — symlink must exist first).
+ */
+export async function importWorkflowBundleModule(bundlePath: string): Promise<unknown> {
+  return import(pathToFileURL(bundlePath).href);
+}

packages/workflow/src/bundle-validator.ts

@@ -41,9 +41,12 @@ function isAllowedImportSpecifier(spec: string): boolean {
   if (spec.length === 0) {
     return false;
   }
-  if (spec.startsWith(".") || spec.startsWith("/")) {
+  if (spec.startsWith(".") || spec.startsWith("/") || spec.startsWith("file:")) {
     return false;
   }
+  if (spec === "@uncaged/workflow") {
+    return true;
+  }
   return isBuiltin(spec);
 }
 
@@ -297,7 +300,7 @@ function validateImportDeclaration(node: ImportDeclaration): string | null {
     return "only static string import specifiers are allowed";
   }
   if (!isAllowedImportSpecifier(spec)) {
-    return `disallowed import specifier "${spec}" (only Node built-ins are allowed)`;
+    return `disallowed import specifier "${spec}" (only Node built-ins and "@uncaged/workflow" are allowed)`;
   }
   return null;
 }
@@ -312,7 +315,7 @@ function validateExportSource(
     return staticMessage;
   }
   if (!isAllowedImportSpecifier(spec)) {
-    return `${disallowedPrefix} "${spec}" (only Node built-ins are allowed)`;
+    return `${disallowedPrefix} "${spec}" (only Node built-ins and "@uncaged/workflow" are allowed)`;
   }
   return null;
 }
@@ -365,7 +368,7 @@ function bundleConstraintViolationForNode(node: Node): string | null {
 
 /**
  * Validate RFC-001 bundle rules: single-file ESM shape, named exports `run` + `descriptor`,
- * no default export, no dynamic `import()`, static imports restricted to Node builtins.
+ * no default export, no dynamic `import()`, static imports restricted to Node builtins plus `@uncaged/workflow`.
  */
 export function validateWorkflowBundle(input: WorkflowBundleValidationInput): Result<void, string> {
   if (!endsWithEsmJs(input.filePath)) {

packages/workflow/src/cas.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { mkdir, readdir, readFile, rename, unlink, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { hashString } from "./hash.js";
+
+export type CasStore = {
+  put(content: string): Promise<string>;
+  get(hash: string): Promise<string | null>;
+  delete(hash: string): Promise<void>;
+  list(): Promise<string[]>;
+};
+
+export function createCasStore(casDir: string): CasStore {
+  async function ensureDir(): Promise<void> {
+    await mkdir(casDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+
+  function filePath(hash: string): string {
+    return join(casDir, `${hash}.txt`);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    async put(content: string): Promise<string> {
+      const hash = hashString(content);
+      await ensureDir();
+      const target = filePath(hash);
+      const tmp = `${target}.tmp.${Date.now()}`;
+      await writeFile(tmp, content, "utf8");
+      await rename(tmp, target);
+      return hash;
+    },
+
+    async get(hash: string): Promise<string | null> {
+      try {
+        return await readFile(filePath(hash), "utf8");
+      } catch (e) {
+        const errObj = e as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+        if (errObj.code === "ENOENT") {
+          return null;
+        }
+        throw e;
+      }
+    },
+
+    async delete(hash: string): Promise<void> {
+      try {
+        await unlink(filePath(hash));
+      } catch (e) {
+        const errObj = e as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+        if (errObj.code === "ENOENT") {
+          return;
+        }
+        throw e;
+      }
+    },
+
+    async list(): Promise<string[]> {
+      try {
+        const entries = await readdir(casDir);
+        return entries.filter((name) => name.endsWith(".txt")).map((name) => name.slice(0, -4));
+      } catch (e) {
+        const errObj = e as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+        if (errObj.code === "ENOENT") {
+          return [];
+        }
+        throw e;
+      }
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+/** @deprecated Use {@link createCasStore} — CAS is global, not per-thread. */
+export const createThreadCas = createCasStore;

packages/workflow/src/create-workflow.ts

@@ -1,19 +1,22 @@
 import type { ExtractFn } from "./extract-fn.js";
+import { putContentMerkleNode } from "./merkle.js";
+import { mergeRefsWithContentHash } from "./refs-field.js";
 import {
   type AgentBinding,
   type AgentContext,
   END,
   type ExtractContext,
   type ModeratorContext,
+  type RoleDefinition,
   type RoleMeta,
   type RoleOutput,
   type RoleStep,
   START,
   type ThreadInput,
+  type WorkflowCompletion,
   type WorkflowDefinition,
   type WorkflowFn,
   type WorkflowFnOptions,
-  type WorkflowResult,
 } from "./types.js";
 
 function isRoleNext<M extends RoleMeta>(
@@ -22,6 +25,17 @@ function isRoleNext<M extends RoleMeta>(
   return next !== END;
 }
 
+function resolveExtractedRefs(
+  roleDef: RoleDefinition<Record<string, unknown>>,
+  meta: unknown,
+): string[] {
+  const extractRefsFn = roleDef.extractRefs;
+  if (extractRefsFn === null || typeof extractRefsFn !== "function") {
+    return [];
+  }
+  return extractRefsFn(meta as Record<string, unknown>);
+}
+
 /**
  * Binds pure role definitions + moderator to runtime agents and structured extraction.
  * Assign with `export const run = createWorkflow(def, binding, extract)`.
@@ -34,7 +48,7 @@ export function createWorkflow<M extends RoleMeta>(
   return async function* workflowLoop(
     input: ThreadInput,
     options: WorkflowFnOptions,
-  ): AsyncGenerator<RoleOutput, WorkflowResult> {
+  ): AsyncGenerator<RoleOutput, WorkflowCompletion> {
     const nowMs = Date.now();
     const start: ModeratorContext<M>["start"] = {
       role: START,
@@ -46,8 +60,9 @@ export function createWorkflow<M extends RoleMeta>(
     const baseTs = Date.now();
     let steps: RoleStep<M>[] = input.steps.map((out, i) => ({
       role: out.role,
-      content: out.content,
+      contentHash: out.contentHash,
       meta: out.meta,
+      refs: out.refs,
       timestamp: baseTs + i,
     })) as RoleStep<M>[];
 
@@ -61,6 +76,7 @@ export function createWorkflow<M extends RoleMeta>(
 
       const modCtx: ModeratorContext<M> = {
         threadId: options.threadId,
+        depth: options.depth,
         start,
         steps,
       };
@@ -79,6 +95,7 @@ export function createWorkflow<M extends RoleMeta>(
       const agentCtx: AgentContext<M> = {
         ...modCtx,
         currentRole: { name: next, systemPrompt: roleDef.systemPrompt },
+        cas: options.cas,
       };
 
       const agent = binding.overrides?.[next] ?? binding.agent;
@@ -96,15 +113,28 @@ export function createWorkflow<M extends RoleMeta>(
         extractCtx as unknown as ExtractContext,
       );
 
+      const contentHash = await putContentMerkleNode(options.cas, raw);
+
+      const refs = mergeRefsWithContentHash(
+        resolveExtractedRefs(roleDef as unknown as RoleDefinition<Record<string, unknown>>, meta),
+        contentHash,
+      );
+
       const ts = Date.now();
       const step = {
         role: next,
-        content: raw,
+        contentHash,
         meta,
+        refs,
         timestamp: ts,
       } as RoleStep<M>;
 
-      yield { role: step.role, content: step.content, meta: step.meta };
+      yield {
+        role: step.role,
+        contentHash: step.contentHash,
+        meta: step.meta,
+        refs: step.refs,
+      };
 
       steps = [...steps, step];
     }

packages/workflow/src/engine.ts

@@ -1,26 +1,39 @@
 import { appendFile, mkdir } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { dirname } from "node:path";
 
+import type { CasStore } from "./cas.js";
 import type { LogFn } from "./logger.js";
-import type { ThreadInput, WorkflowFn, WorkflowFnOptions, WorkflowResult } from "./types.js";
+import { getContentMerklePayload, putStepMerkleNode, putThreadMerkleNode } from "./merkle.js";
+import { normalizeRefsField } from "./refs-field.js";
+import type {
+  ThreadInput,
+  WorkflowCompletion,
+  WorkflowFn,
+  WorkflowFnOptions,
+  WorkflowResult,
+} from "./types.js";
 
 export type ExecuteThreadIo = {
   threadId: string;
   hash: string;
   dataJsonlPath: string;
   infoJsonlPath: string;
+  cas: CasStore;
 };
 
 /** One persisted role line in `.data.jsonl` (engine adds these for fork replay before running the generator). */
 export type PrefilledDiskStep = {
   role: string;
-  content: string;
+  contentHash: string;
   meta: Record<string, unknown>;
+  refs: string[];
   timestamp: number;
 };
 
 export type ExecuteThreadOptions = {
   maxRounds: number;
+  /** Passed to the bundle as `WorkflowFnOptions.depth`. */
+  depth: number;
   signal: AbortSignal;
   /** Invoked after each successful yield (and outer-loop checks); used for pause/resume. */
   awaitAfterEachYield: () => Promise<void>;
@@ -38,50 +51,123 @@ async function appendDataLine(path: string, record: unknown): Promise<void> {
   await appendFile(path, line, "utf8");
 }
 
+async function finalizeThreadResult(params: {
+  cas: CasStore;
+  workflowName: string;
+  threadId: string;
+  stepMerkleHashes: readonly string[];
+  completion: WorkflowCompletion;
+}): Promise<WorkflowResult> {
+  const rootHash = await putThreadMerkleNode(
+    params.cas,
+    {
+      workflow: params.workflowName,
+      threadId: params.threadId,
+      result: {
+        returnCode: params.completion.returnCode,
+        summary: params.completion.summary,
+      },
+    },
+    params.stepMerkleHashes,
+  );
+  return {
+    returnCode: params.completion.returnCode,
+    summary: params.completion.summary,
+    rootHash,
+  };
+}
+
 async function driveWorkflowGenerator(params: {
   fn: WorkflowFn;
+  workflowName: string;
   input: ThreadInput;
   bundleOptions: WorkflowFnOptions;
   executeOptions: ExecuteThreadOptions;
   dataJsonlPath: string;
   threadId: string;
   logger: LogFn;
+  cas: CasStore;
+  stepMerkleHashes: string[];
 }): Promise<WorkflowResult> {
-  const { fn, input, bundleOptions, executeOptions, dataJsonlPath, threadId, logger } = params;
+  const {
+    fn,
+    workflowName,
+    input,
+    bundleOptions,
+    executeOptions,
+    dataJsonlPath,
+    threadId,
+    logger,
+    cas,
+    stepMerkleHashes,
+  } = params;
   const gen = fn(input, bundleOptions);
   let written = 0;
 
   while (true) {
     if (executeOptions.signal.aborted) {
       logger("V8JX4NP2", `thread ${threadId} aborted`);
-      return { returnCode: 130, summary: "thread aborted" };
+      return await finalizeThreadResult({
+        cas,
+        workflowName,
+        threadId,
+        stepMerkleHashes,
+        completion: { returnCode: 130, summary: "thread aborted" },
+      });
     }
 
     if (written >= executeOptions.maxRounds) {
       logger("R3CW7YBQ", `thread ${threadId} stopped at maxRounds=${executeOptions.maxRounds}`);
-      return {
-        returnCode: 0,
-        summary: `completed: reached maxRounds (${executeOptions.maxRounds})`,
-      };
+      return await finalizeThreadResult({
+        cas,
+        workflowName,
+        threadId,
+        stepMerkleHashes,
+        completion: {
+          returnCode: 0,
+          summary: `completed: reached maxRounds (${executeOptions.maxRounds})`,
+        },
+      });
     }
 
     const iterResult = await gen.next();
 
     if (iterResult.done) {
       logger("F3HN8QKP", `thread ${threadId} generator finished`);
-      return iterResult.value;
+      const completion = iterResult.value;
+      return await finalizeThreadResult({
+        cas,
+        workflowName,
+        threadId,
+        stepMerkleHashes,
+        completion,
+      });
     }
 
     written++;
     const step = iterResult.value;
+    const resolved = await getContentMerklePayload(cas, step.contentHash);
+    if (resolved === null) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `role step ${step.role}: CAS blob missing for contentHash ${step.contentHash}`,
+      );
+    }
     const ts = Date.now();
     await appendDataLine(dataJsonlPath, {
       role: step.role,
-      content: step.content,
+      contentHash: step.contentHash,
       meta: step.meta,
+      refs: normalizeRefsField(step.refs),
       timestamp: ts,
     });
 
+    const stepNodeHash = await putStepMerkleNode(
+      cas,
+      { role: step.role, meta: step.meta },
+      step.contentHash,
+    );
+    stepMerkleHashes.push(stepNodeHash);
+
     logger("N7BW4YHQ", `thread ${threadId} wrote role ${step.role}`);
 
     await Promise.race([
@@ -97,7 +183,13 @@ async function driveWorkflowGenerator(params: {
 
     if (executeOptions.signal.aborted) {
       logger("V8JX4NP4", `thread ${threadId} aborted`);
-      return { returnCode: 130, summary: "thread aborted" };
+      return await finalizeThreadResult({
+        cas,
+        workflowName,
+        threadId,
+        stepMerkleHashes,
+        completion: { returnCode: 130, summary: "thread aborted" },
+      });
     }
   }
 }
@@ -133,6 +225,7 @@ export async function executeThread(
       prompt: input.prompt,
       options: {
         maxRounds: options.maxRounds,
+        depth: options.depth,
       },
     },
     timestamp: nowMs,
@@ -145,37 +238,63 @@ export async function executeThread(
 
   logger("T9HQ2KHM", `thread ${io.threadId} started for workflow ${workflowName}`);
 
+  const stepMerkleHashes: string[] = [];
+
   if (prefilled !== null) {
     for (const row of prefilled) {
+      const prefilledPayload = await getContentMerklePayload(io.cas, row.contentHash);
+      if (prefilledPayload === null) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `prefilled step ${row.role}: CAS blob missing for contentHash ${row.contentHash}`,
+        );
+      }
       await appendDataLine(io.dataJsonlPath, {
         role: row.role,
-        content: row.content,
+        contentHash: row.contentHash,
         meta: row.meta,
+        refs: normalizeRefsField(row.refs),
         timestamp: row.timestamp,
       });
+      const stepNodeHash = await putStepMerkleNode(
+        io.cas,
+        { role: row.role, meta: row.meta },
+        row.contentHash,
+      );
+      stepMerkleHashes.push(stepNodeHash);
     }
   }
 
   if (options.maxRounds <= 0) {
     logger("R3CW7YBQ", `thread ${io.threadId} stopped at maxRounds=${options.maxRounds}`);
-    return {
-      returnCode: 0,
-      summary: `completed: reached maxRounds (${options.maxRounds})`,
-    };
+    return await finalizeThreadResult({
+      cas: io.cas,
+      workflowName,
+      threadId: io.threadId,
+      stepMerkleHashes,
+      completion: {
+        returnCode: 0,
+        summary: `completed: reached maxRounds (${options.maxRounds})`,
+      },
+    });
   }
 
   const bundleOptions: WorkflowFnOptions = {
     threadId: io.threadId,
     maxRounds: options.maxRounds,
+    depth: options.depth,
+    cas: io.cas,
   };
 
   return await driveWorkflowGenerator({
     fn,
+    workflowName,
     input,
     bundleOptions,
     executeOptions: options,
     dataJsonlPath: io.dataJsonlPath,
     threadId: io.threadId,
     logger,
+    cas: io.cas,
+    stepMerkleHashes,
   });
 }

packages/workflow/src/ensure-uncaged-workflow-symlink.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { mkdir, readlink, symlink, unlink } from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+/** This module lives in `@uncaged/workflow/src`; parent dir is the package root. */
+function installedWorkflowPackageDir(): string {
+  return fileURLToPath(new URL("..", import.meta.url));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Ensures `<storageRoot>/node_modules/@uncaged/workflow` points at the installed `@uncaged/workflow`
+ * package so workflow bundles loaded from `<storageRoot>/bundles/*.esm.js` can resolve `import "@uncaged/workflow"`.
+ */
+export async function ensureUncagedWorkflowSymlink(storageRoot: string): Promise<void> {
+  const target = installedWorkflowPackageDir();
+  const linkDir = path.join(storageRoot, "node_modules", "@uncaged");
+  const linkPath = path.join(linkDir, "workflow");
+  await mkdir(linkDir, { recursive: true });
+
+  try {
+    const existing = await readlink(linkPath);
+    const normalizedExisting = path.resolve(linkDir, existing);
+    if (normalizedExisting === target) {
+      return;
+    }
+    await unlink(linkPath);
+  } catch (e) {
+    const errObj = e as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+    if (errObj.code !== "ENOENT" && errObj.code !== "EINVAL") {
+      throw e;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const linkType = process.platform === "win32" ? "junction" : "dir";
+  await symlink(target, linkPath, linkType);
+}

packages/workflow/src/extract-bundle-exports.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
-
+import { importWorkflowBundleModule } from "./bundle-import-env.js";
+import { ensureUncagedWorkflowSymlink } from "./ensure-uncaged-workflow-symlink.js";
 import { err, ok, type Result } from "./result.js";
 import type { WorkflowFn } from "./types.js";
 import type { WorkflowDescriptor } from "./workflow-descriptor.js";
@@ -10,14 +10,23 @@ export type ExtractedBundleExports = {
   descriptor: WorkflowDescriptor;
 };
 
+export type ExtractBundleExportsOptions = {
+  /** When set, ensures `node_modules/@uncaged/workflow` exists under this root before import. */
+  storageRoot: string | null;
+};
+
 /** Load a workflow `.esm.js` bundle and read its named exports (`run`, `descriptor`). */
 export async function extractBundleExports(
   bundlePath: string,
+  options: ExtractBundleExportsOptions = { storageRoot: null },
 ): Promise<Result<ExtractedBundleExports, string>> {
   let modUnknown: unknown;
   try {
+    if (options.storageRoot !== null) {
+      await ensureUncagedWorkflowSymlink(options.storageRoot);
+    }
     // Dynamic import required: user bundle path resolved at runtime
-    modUnknown = await import(pathToFileURL(bundlePath).href);
+    modUnknown = await importWorkflowBundleModule(bundlePath);
   } catch (e) {
     const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
     return err(`failed to import bundle: ${message}`);

packages/workflow/src/extract-fn.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type * as z from "zod/v4";
 
 import { llmExtractWithRetry } from "./llm-extract.js";
+import { getContentMerklePayload } from "./merkle.js";
 import type { ExtractContext, LlmProvider } from "./types.js";
 
 export type ExtractFn = <T extends Record<string, unknown>>(
@@ -29,8 +30,12 @@ export function createExtract(provider: LlmProvider): ExtractFn {
     if (ctx.steps.length > 0) {
       lines.push("## Thread History");
       for (const step of ctx.steps) {
+        const body = await getContentMerklePayload(ctx.cas, step.contentHash);
+        if (body === null) {
+          throw new Error(`extract: missing CAS blob for step ${step.role}: ${step.contentHash}`);
+        }
         lines.push(`### ${step.role}`);
-        lines.push(step.content);
+        lines.push(body);
         lines.push(`Meta: ${JSON.stringify(step.meta)}`);
         lines.push("");
       }

packages/workflow/src/fork-thread.ts

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { normalizeRefsField } from "./refs-field.js";
 import { err, ok, type Result } from "./result.js";
 import type { RoleOutput } from "./types.js";
 
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ export type ParsedThreadStartRecord = {
   threadId: string;
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  depth: number;
 };
 
 function parseRoleLine(
@@ -17,14 +19,14 @@ function parseRoleLine(
   lineIndex: number,
 ): Result<ForkHistoricalStep, string> {
   const role = obj.role;
-  const content = obj.content;
+  const contentHash = obj.contentHash;
   const meta = obj.meta;
   const timestamp = obj.timestamp;
   if (typeof role !== "string") {
     return err(`invalid role record at line ${lineIndex}: missing role`);
   }
-  if (typeof content !== "string") {
-    return err(`invalid role record at line ${lineIndex}: missing content`);
+  if (typeof contentHash !== "string") {
+    return err(`invalid role record at line ${lineIndex}: missing contentHash`);
   }
   if (meta === null || typeof meta !== "object") {
     return err(`invalid role record at line ${lineIndex}: missing meta`);
@@ -34,8 +36,9 @@ function parseRoleLine(
   }
   return ok({
     role,
-    content,
+    contentHash,
     meta: meta as Record<string, unknown>,
+    refs: normalizeRefsField(obj.refs),
     timestamp,
   });
 }
@@ -76,12 +79,17 @@ function parseStartRecordLine(firstLine: string): Result<ParsedThreadStartRecord
     return err("start record missing parameters.options.maxRounds");
   }
 
+  const depthRaw = optRec.depth;
+  const depth =
+    typeof depthRaw === "number" && Number.isFinite(depthRaw) ? Math.trunc(depthRaw) : 0;
+
   return ok({
     workflowName: name,
     hash,
     threadId,
     prompt,
     maxRounds,
+    depth,
   });
 }
 
@@ -194,7 +202,7 @@ export type ForkPlan = {
   hash: string;
   sourceThreadId: string;
   prompt: string;
-  runOptions: { maxRounds: number };
+  runOptions: { maxRounds: number; depth: number };
   historicalSteps: ForkHistoricalStep[];
 };
 
@@ -219,7 +227,7 @@ export function buildForkPlan(
     hash: start.hash,
     sourceThreadId: start.threadId,
     prompt: start.prompt,
-    runOptions: { maxRounds: start.maxRounds },
+    runOptions: { maxRounds: start.maxRounds, depth: start.depth },
     historicalSteps: selected.value,
   });
 }

packages/workflow/src/gc.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import { readdir, readFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { type CasStore, createCasStore } from "./cas.js";
+import { parseThreadDataJsonl } from "./fork-thread.js";
+import { err, ok, type Result } from "./result.js";
+import { getGlobalCasDir } from "./storage-root.js";
+
+export type GcResult = {
+  scannedThreads: number;
+  activeRefs: number;
+  deletedEntries: number;
+  deletedHashes: string[];
+};
+
+async function listThreadDataJsonlPaths(storageRoot: string): Promise<Result<string[], string>> {
+  const logsRoot = join(storageRoot, "logs");
+  const paths: string[] = [];
+  let hashes: string[];
+  try {
+    hashes = await readdir(logsRoot);
+  } catch (e) {
+    const errObj = e as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+    if (errObj.code === "ENOENT") {
+      return ok([]);
+    }
+    return err(`failed to read logs directory: ${String(e)}`);
+  }
+
+  for (const hash of hashes) {
+    const dir = join(logsRoot, hash);
+    let entries: string[];
+    try {
+      entries = await readdir(dir);
+    } catch {
+      continue;
+    }
+    for (const fileName of entries) {
+      if (fileName.endsWith(".data.jsonl")) {
+        paths.push(join(dir, fileName));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  paths.sort();
+  return ok(paths);
+}
+
+async function collectActiveRefsFromDataPaths(
+  dataPaths: string[],
+): Promise<Result<Set<string>, string>> {
+  const activeRefs = new Set<string>();
+  for (const dataPath of dataPaths) {
+    let text: string;
+    try {
+      text = await readFile(dataPath, "utf8");
+    } catch (e) {
+      return err(`failed to read ${dataPath}: ${String(e)}`);
+    }
+    const parsed = parseThreadDataJsonl(text);
+    if (!parsed.ok) {
+      return err(`${dataPath}: ${parsed.error}`);
+    }
+    for (const step of parsed.value.roleSteps) {
+      for (const ref of step.refs) {
+        activeRefs.add(ref);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return ok(activeRefs);
+}
+
+async function deleteCasNotInSet(
+  cas: CasStore,
+  activeRefs: Set<string>,
+): Promise<Result<string[], string>> {
+  let listed: string[];
+  try {
+    listed = await cas.list();
+  } catch (e) {
+    return err(`failed to list cas entries: ${String(e)}`);
+  }
+
+  const deletedHashes: string[] = [];
+  for (const hash of listed) {
+    if (activeRefs.has(hash)) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    try {
+      await cas.delete(hash);
+    } catch (e) {
+      return err(`failed to delete cas ${hash}: ${String(e)}`);
+    }
+    deletedHashes.push(hash);
+  }
+
+  deletedHashes.sort();
+  return ok(deletedHashes);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Mark-and-sweep CAS GC: collect `refs` from all thread `.data.jsonl` files under `storageRoot`,
+ * then delete CAS blobs not referenced by any surviving thread data.
+ */
+export async function garbageCollectCas(storageRoot: string): Promise<Result<GcResult, string>> {
+  const pathsResult = await listThreadDataJsonlPaths(storageRoot);
+  if (!pathsResult.ok) {
+    return pathsResult;
+  }
+  const paths = pathsResult.value;
+
+  const refsResult = await collectActiveRefsFromDataPaths(paths);
+  if (!refsResult.ok) {
+    return refsResult;
+  }
+  const activeRefs = refsResult.value;
+
+  const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+  const deletedResult = await deleteCasNotInSet(cas, activeRefs);
+  if (!deletedResult.ok) {
+    return deletedResult;
+  }
+  const deletedHashes = deletedResult.value;
+
+  return ok({
+    scannedThreads: paths.length,
+    activeRefs: activeRefs.size,
+    deletedEntries: deletedHashes.length,
+    deletedHashes,
+  });
+}

packages/workflow/src/hash.ts

@@ -15,3 +15,10 @@ export function hashWorkflowBundleBytes(data: Uint8Array): string {
   const digest = XXH.h64(0).update(buf).digest();
   return encodeUint64AsCrockford(digestToUint64(digest));
 }
+
+/** XXH64 (seed 0) over a UTF-8 string, encoded as 13-char Crockford Base32. */
+export function hashString(content: string): string {
+  const buf = Buffer.from(content, "utf8");
+  const digest = XXH.h64(0).update(buf).digest();
+  return encodeUint64AsCrockford(digestToUint64(digest));
+}

packages/workflow/src/index.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ export {
 } from "./base32.js";
 export { buildDescriptor } from "./build-descriptor.js";
 export { validateWorkflowBundle, type WorkflowBundleValidationInput } from "./bundle-validator.js";
+export { type CasStore, createCasStore, createThreadCas } from "./cas.js";
 export { createWorkflow } from "./create-workflow.js";
 export {
   type ExecuteThreadIo,
@@ -24,8 +25,9 @@ export {
   parseThreadDataJsonl,
   selectForkHistoricalSteps,
 } from "./fork-thread.js";
+export { type GcResult, garbageCollectCas } from "./gc.js";
 export { stringifyWorkflowDescriptor } from "./generate-descriptor.js";
-export { hashWorkflowBundleBytes } from "./hash.js";
+export { hashString, hashWorkflowBundleBytes } from "./hash.js";
 export {
   type LlmError,
   llmErrorToCause,
@@ -38,6 +40,19 @@ export {
   type LogFn,
   type LoggerSink,
 } from "./logger.js";
+export {
+  createContentMerkleNode,
+  getContentMerklePayload,
+  type MerkleNode,
+  type MerkleNodeType,
+  parseMerkleNode,
+  putContentMerkleNode,
+  putStepMerkleNode,
+  putThreadMerkleNode,
+  type StepMerklePayload,
+  serializeMerkleNode,
+  type ThreadMerklePayload,
+} from "./merkle.js";
 export {
   getRegisteredWorkflow,
   listRegisteredWorkflowNames,
@@ -54,7 +69,7 @@ export {
   writeWorkflowRegistry,
 } from "./registry.js";
 export { err, ok, type Result } from "./result.js";
-export { getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot } from "./storage-root.js";
+export { getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot, getGlobalCasDir } from "./storage-root.js";
 export { createThreadPauseGate, type ThreadPauseGate } from "./thread-pause-gate.js";
 export {
   type AgentBinding,
@@ -73,6 +88,7 @@ export {
   type StartStep,
   type ThreadContext,
   type ThreadInput,
+  type WorkflowCompletion,
   type WorkflowDefinition,
   type WorkflowFn,
   type WorkflowFnOptions,
@@ -80,6 +96,7 @@ export {
 } from "./types.js";
 export { generateUlid } from "./ulid.js";
 export { getWorkerHostScriptPath } from "./worker-entry-path.js";
+export { type WorkflowAsAgentOptions, workflowAsAgent } from "./workflow-as-agent.js";
 export {
   validateWorkflowDescriptor,
   type WorkflowDescriptor,

packages/workflow/src/merkle.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+import { parse, stringify } from "yaml";
+
+import type { CasStore } from "./cas.js";
+
+export type MerkleNodeType = "content" | "step" | "thread";
+
+export type MerkleNode = {
+  type: MerkleNodeType;
+  payload: string | Record<string, unknown>;
+  children: string[];
+};
+
+export function serializeMerkleNode(node: MerkleNode): string {
+  return stringify(
+    { type: node.type, payload: node.payload, children: node.children },
+    { indent: 2 },
+  );
+}
+
+export function parseMerkleNode(yamlText: string): MerkleNode {
+  const raw = parse(yamlText) as unknown;
+  if (raw === null || typeof raw !== "object") {
+    throw new Error("merkle: YAML root must be an object");
+  }
+  const rec = raw as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const type = rec.type;
+  const payload = rec.payload;
+  const children = rec.children;
+  if (type !== "content" && type !== "step" && type !== "thread") {
+    throw new Error("merkle: invalid or missing type");
+  }
+  if (typeof payload !== "string" && (payload === null || typeof payload !== "object")) {
+    throw new Error("merkle: payload must be a string or object");
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(children)) {
+    throw new Error("merkle: children must be an array");
+  }
+  const childHashes: string[] = [];
+  for (const c of children) {
+    if (typeof c !== "string") {
+      throw new Error("merkle: child hash must be a string");
+    }
+    childHashes.push(c);
+  }
+  return {
+    type,
+    payload: typeof payload === "string" ? payload : (payload as Record<string, unknown>),
+    children: childHashes,
+  };
+}
+
+export function createContentMerkleNode(payload: string): MerkleNode {
+  return { type: "content", payload, children: [] };
+}
+
+export type StepMerklePayload = {
+  role: string;
+  meta: Record<string, unknown>;
+};
+
+export type ThreadMerklePayload = {
+  workflow: string;
+  threadId: string;
+  result: {
+    returnCode: number;
+    summary: string;
+  };
+};
+
+/** Serializes a step Merkle node (role + meta + content child) and stores it in CAS. */
+export async function putStepMerkleNode(
+  store: CasStore,
+  payload: StepMerklePayload,
+  contentHash: string,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const node: MerkleNode = {
+    type: "step",
+    payload: { role: payload.role, meta: payload.meta },
+    children: [contentHash],
+  };
+  return store.put(serializeMerkleNode(node));
+}
+
+/** Serializes the thread root Merkle node and stores it in CAS. */
+export async function putThreadMerkleNode(
+  store: CasStore,
+  payload: ThreadMerklePayload,
+  stepHashes: readonly string[],
+): Promise<string> {
+  const node: MerkleNode = {
+    type: "thread",
+    payload: {
+      workflow: payload.workflow,
+      threadId: payload.threadId,
+      result: payload.result,
+    },
+    children: [...stepHashes],
+  };
+  return store.put(serializeMerkleNode(node));
+}
+
+/** Serializes a content Merkle node and stores it in CAS; returns its hash. */
+export async function putContentMerkleNode(store: CasStore, content: string): Promise<string> {
+  const yamlText = serializeMerkleNode(createContentMerkleNode(content));
+  return store.put(yamlText);
+}
+
+/** Loads a CAS blob and returns the payload string for a `content` Merkle node. */
+export async function getContentMerklePayload(
+  store: CasStore,
+  hash: string,
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  const yamlText = await store.get(hash);
+  if (yamlText === null) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const node = parseMerkleNode(yamlText);
+  if (node.type !== "content" || typeof node.payload !== "string") {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return node.payload;
+}

packages/workflow/src/refs-field.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/** Append `contentHash` to `refs` when not already present (dedupe by first occurrence order). */
+export function mergeRefsWithContentHash(refs: string[], contentHash: string): string[] {
+  const out = [...refs];
+  if (!out.includes(contentHash)) {
+    out.push(contentHash);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+/** Normalize `refs` from persisted JSONL or IPC payloads (missing or invalid → []). */
+export function normalizeRefsField(value: unknown): string[] {
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return [];
+  }
+  const out: string[] = [];
+  for (const x of value) {
+    if (typeof x === "string") {
+      out.push(x);
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}

packages/workflow/src/storage-root.ts

@@ -5,3 +5,9 @@ import { join } from "node:path";
 export function getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot(): string {
   return join(homedir(), ".uncaged", "workflow");
 }
+
+/** Global content-addressed store directory under the workflow storage root (`<root>/cas`). */
+export function getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot: string | undefined): string {
+  const root = storageRoot ?? getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot();
+  return join(root, "cas");
+}

packages/workflow/src/types.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import type * as z from "zod/v4";
 
+import type { CasStore } from "./cas.js";
+
 /** Sentinel values for automaton control flow. */
 export const START = "__start__" as const;
 export const END = "__end__" as const;
@@ -17,16 +19,24 @@ export type LlmProvider = {
 /** What each generator yield produces — one role's output (engine adds `timestamp` when persisting). */
 export type RoleOutput = {
   role: string;
-  content: string;
+  /** CAS hash of the serialized Merkle content node for this step's body text. */
+  contentHash: string;
   meta: Record<string, unknown>;
+  /** CAS hashes produced or consumed by this step (for GC traceability). */
+  refs: string[];
 };
 
-/** What the workflow AsyncGenerator returns when done. */
-export type WorkflowResult = {
+/** Generator completion value from a workflow bundle (`run` export). Root hash is added by the engine. */
+export type WorkflowCompletion = {
   returnCode: number;
   summary: string;
 };
 
+/** Final thread outcome from {@link executeThread}, including Merkle thread root CAS hash. */
+export type WorkflowResult = WorkflowCompletion & {
+  rootHash: string;
+};
+
 /** Input to a workflow — prompt plus optional historical steps for fork/resume. */
 export type ThreadInput = {
   prompt: string;
@@ -37,13 +47,17 @@ export type ThreadInput = {
 export type WorkflowFnOptions = {
   threadId: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  /** Nesting depth for workflow-as-agent chains; root threads use `0`. */
+  depth: number;
+  /** Global CAS store for Merkle content blobs (role step bodies). */
+  cas: CasStore;
 };
 
 /** Bundle contract — named export `run` is a function returning an AsyncGenerator. */
 export type WorkflowFn = (
   input: ThreadInput,
   options: WorkflowFnOptions,
-) => AsyncGenerator<RoleOutput, WorkflowResult>;
+) => AsyncGenerator<RoleOutput, WorkflowCompletion>;
 
 /** Engine start frame: initial prompt + thread identity. */
 export type StartStep = {
@@ -55,12 +69,20 @@ export type StartStep = {
 
 /** A completed role step in the thread. */
 export type RoleStep<M extends RoleMeta> = {
-  [K in keyof M & string]: { role: K; meta: M[K]; content: string; timestamp: number };
+  [K in keyof M & string]: {
+    role: K;
+    meta: M[K];
+    contentHash: string;
+    refs: string[];
+    timestamp: number;
+  };
 }[keyof M & string];
 
 /** Phase 1: Moderator decides next role. */
 export type ModeratorContext<M extends RoleMeta = RoleMeta> = {
   threadId: string;
+  /** Same as `WorkflowFnOptions.depth` for the active thread. */
+  depth: number;
   start: StartStep;
   steps: RoleStep<M>[];
 };
@@ -71,6 +93,7 @@ export type AgentContext<M extends RoleMeta = RoleMeta> = ModeratorContext<M> &
     name: string;
     systemPrompt: string;
   };
+  cas: CasStore;
 };
 
 /** Phase 3: Extractor runs — has agent output; the extraction instruction is a separate argument to the extract function. */
@@ -96,6 +119,8 @@ export type RoleDefinition<Meta extends Record<string, unknown>> = {
   systemPrompt: string;
   extractPrompt: string;
   schema: z.ZodType<Meta>;
+  /** When non-null, produces CAS hashes to persist on this role's steps (see `RoleOutput.refs`). */
+  extractRefs: ((meta: Meta) => string[]) | null;
 };
 
 /**

packages/workflow/src/worker.ts

@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 import { mkdir, unlink, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { createServer, type Socket } from "node:net";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { importWorkflowBundleModule } from "./bundle-import-env.js";
+import { createCasStore } from "./cas.js";
 import type { PrefilledDiskStep } from "./engine.js";
 import { type ExecuteThreadIo, executeThread } from "./engine.js";
+import { ensureUncagedWorkflowSymlink } from "./ensure-uncaged-workflow-symlink.js";
 import { createLogger } from "./logger.js";
+import { normalizeRefsField } from "./refs-field.js";
 import { err, ok, type Result } from "./result.js";
+import { getGlobalCasDir } from "./storage-root.js";
 import { createThreadPauseGate, type ThreadPauseGate } from "./thread-pause-gate.js";
 import type { RoleOutput, WorkflowFn } from "./types.js";
 
@@ -16,7 +20,7 @@ type RunCommand = {
   threadId: string;
   workflowName: string;
   prompt: string;
-  options: { maxRounds: number };
+  options: { maxRounds: number; depth: number };
   steps: RoleOutput[];
   /** Timestamps aligned with `steps` for `.data.jsonl` replay; length must match `steps` when non-null. */
   stepTimestamps: number[] | null;
@@ -47,15 +51,20 @@ type ThreadHandle = {
 
 function parseRoleOutputRecord(obj: Record<string, unknown>): RoleOutput | null {
   const role = obj.role;
-  const content = obj.content;
+  const contentHash = obj.contentHash;
   const meta = obj.meta;
-  if (typeof role !== "string" || typeof content !== "string") {
+  if (typeof role !== "string" || typeof contentHash !== "string") {
     return null;
   }
   if (meta === null || typeof meta !== "object") {
     return null;
   }
-  return { role, content, meta: meta as Record<string, unknown> };
+  return {
+    role,
+    contentHash,
+    meta: meta as Record<string, unknown>,
+    refs: normalizeRefsField(obj.refs),
+  };
 }
 
 function parseRunStepsPayload(rec: Record<string, unknown>): {
@@ -118,6 +127,9 @@ function parseRunControlPayload(rec: Record<string, unknown>): RunCommand | null
   if (typeof maxRounds !== "number") {
     return null;
   }
+  const depthRaw = optRec.depth;
+  const depth =
+    typeof depthRaw === "number" && Number.isFinite(depthRaw) ? Math.trunc(depthRaw) : 0;
   const parsedSteps = parseRunStepsPayload(rec);
   if (parsedSteps === null) {
     return null;
@@ -135,7 +147,7 @@ function parseRunControlPayload(rec: Record<string, unknown>): RunCommand | null
     threadId,
     workflowName,
     prompt,
-    options: { maxRounds },
+    options: { maxRounds, depth },
     steps: parsedSteps.steps,
     stepTimestamps: parsedSteps.stepTimestamps,
     forkSourceThreadId,
@@ -291,8 +303,9 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     return;
   }
 
+  await ensureUncagedWorkflowSymlink(storageRoot);
   // Dynamic import required: user bundle path resolved at runtime
-  const modUnknown: unknown = await import(pathToFileURL(bundlePath).href);
+  const modUnknown: unknown = await importWorkflowBundleModule(bundlePath);
   const modRec = modUnknown as Record<string, unknown>;
   const runExport = modRec.run;
   if (!isWorkflowFnLike(runExport)) {
@@ -306,6 +319,8 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   let activeThreads = 0;
   let shutdownTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
 
+  const cas = createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot));
+
   const workerCtlPath = join(storageRoot, "workers", `${hash}.json`);
 
   function cancelShutdownTimer(): void {
@@ -354,6 +369,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
       hash,
       dataJsonlPath,
       infoJsonlPath,
+      cas,
     };
 
     const existing = threads.get(threadId);
@@ -380,8 +396,9 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
           const ts = cmd.stepTimestamps?.[i];
           return {
             role: step.role,
-            content: step.content,
+            contentHash: step.contentHash,
             meta: step.meta,
+            refs: normalizeRefsField(step.refs),
             timestamp: typeof ts === "number" && ts > 0 ? ts : baseTs + i,
           };
         });

packages/workflow/src/workflow-as-agent.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { createCasStore } from "./cas.js";
+import { type ExecuteThreadIo, executeThread } from "./engine.js";
+import { extractBundleExports } from "./extract-bundle-exports.js";
+import { createLogger } from "./logger.js";
+import { getRegisteredWorkflow, readWorkflowRegistry } from "./registry.js";
+import { getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot, getGlobalCasDir } from "./storage-root.js";
+import type { AgentContext, AgentFn, ThreadInput } from "./types.js";
+import { generateUlid } from "./ulid.js";
+
+/** Maximum `WorkflowFnOptions.depth` allowed for a child spawned via `workflowAsAgent`. */
+const WORKFLOW_AS_AGENT_MAX_DEPTH = 3;
+
+export type WorkflowAsAgentOptions = {
+  /** When `null`, uses `getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot()`. */
+  storageRoot: string | null;
+};
+
+function resolveWorkflowAsAgentStorageRoot(options: WorkflowAsAgentOptions | null): string {
+  if (options !== null && options.storageRoot !== null) {
+    return options.storageRoot;
+  }
+  return getDefaultWorkflowStorageRoot();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns an {@link AgentFn} that runs another registered workflow in a new thread,
+ * using the parent thread's initial prompt (`ctx.start.content`) as the child {@link ThreadInput.prompt}.
+ */
+export function workflowAsAgent(
+  workflowName: string,
+  options: WorkflowAsAgentOptions | null = null,
+): AgentFn {
+  return async (ctx: AgentContext): Promise<string> => {
+    const nextDepth = ctx.depth + 1;
+    if (nextDepth > WORKFLOW_AS_AGENT_MAX_DEPTH) {
+      return `ERROR: workflow-as-agent depth limit exceeded (max ${WORKFLOW_AS_AGENT_MAX_DEPTH})`;
+    }
+
+    const storageRoot = resolveWorkflowAsAgentStorageRoot(options);
+
+    const registryResult = await readWorkflowRegistry(storageRoot);
+    if (!registryResult.ok) {
+      return `ERROR: failed to read workflow registry: ${registryResult.error.message}`;
+    }
+
+    const entry = getRegisteredWorkflow(registryResult.value, workflowName);
+    if (entry === null) {
+      return `ERROR: workflow "${workflowName}" not found in registry`;
+    }
+
+    const bundlePath = join(storageRoot, "bundles", `${entry.hash}.esm.js`);
+    const bundleExportsResult = await extractBundleExports(bundlePath, { storageRoot });
+    if (!bundleExportsResult.ok) {
+      return `ERROR: ${bundleExportsResult.error}`;
+    }
+
+    const input: ThreadInput = {
+      prompt: ctx.start.content,
+      steps: [],
+    };
+
+    const childThreadId = generateUlid(Date.now());
+    const dataJsonlPath = join(storageRoot, "logs", entry.hash, `${childThreadId}.data.jsonl`);
+    const infoJsonlPath = join(storageRoot, "logs", entry.hash, `${childThreadId}.info.jsonl`);
+
+    const io: ExecuteThreadIo = {
+      threadId: childThreadId,
+      hash: entry.hash,
+      dataJsonlPath,
+      infoJsonlPath,
+      cas: createCasStore(getGlobalCasDir(storageRoot)),
+    };
+
+    const logger = createLogger({ sink: { kind: "file", path: infoJsonlPath } });
+    const signalNever = new AbortController();
+
+    try {
+      const result = await executeThread(
+        bundleExportsResult.value.run,
+        workflowName,
+        input,
+        {
+          maxRounds: ctx.start.meta.maxRounds,
+          depth: nextDepth,
+          signal: signalNever.signal,
+          awaitAfterEachYield: async () => {},
+          forkSourceThreadId: ctx.threadId,
+          prefilledDiskSteps: null,
+        },
+        io,
+        logger,
+      );
+      return result.rootHash;
+    } catch (e) {
+      const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      return `ERROR: ${message}`;
+    }
+  };
+}